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Last week, I went to the Originator Connect holiday party and conference in Irvine. It was a good opportunity to sniff out innovative mortgage financing tools aimed at helping consumers just like you. For me, the find of the day was a home equity line of credit (HELOC) allowing bank statement deposits to be used as an income qualifying substitute for tax returns. I’ve come across bank statement fixed-rate second mortgages, where an applicant must pull all the money out at once, but I’ve never come across this concept for HELOCs. The big advantage with a HELOC is it allows you to borrow and pay it back, sort of like a business line of credit or a credit card, but at significantly cheaper rates. Many self-employed borrowers can show a nice flow of income through bank deposits, but the money doesn’t translate well enough when it comes to claiming enough qualifying net income on a tax return. Legitimate (or even illegitimate) expenses claimed on tax returns whittle down the taxable income. Hence, the bank statement loan program works for those who are unable to meet “full documentation” income and debt-ratio qualifications. What’s the catch? A borrower is going to pay a higher rate and more fees on this HELOC compared with a standard bank HELOC. Beggars can’t be choosers. If you can’t get a bank HELOC, you may be able to get a bank statement HELOC. Here’s an example: $500,000 loan, 75% loan-to-value and 740 middle FICO score offers a start rate of 10.125%. Assume points and closing costs of $7,000. Compare that to a full doc (tax returns to provide the income) bank HELOC, to which you might be paying zero costs with a starting rate of 8.25%. Among the program highlights: This twist on a HELOC is available for owner-occupied residences, second homes and investment properties. The maximum loan amount is $750,000. The borrower must pull out at least 80% of the line amount at closing. You cannot pay any of it back for 90 days. It’s a 20-year term. You can borrow and pay back for the first five years at interest-only payments. A borrower will have an additional 15 years to pay the line back. Also, you can pull out as much as 85% of the equity from your property. American Business Media (the conference organizer) arranges 30 shows a year around the United States. I asked the director of events, Navindra Persaud, what was the hottest topic for mortgage brokers these days. “Navigating higher (mortgage) rates and finding diversity to their (consumer) product offerings,” he told me. Speaking of diversity, another very interesting program is another version of fog-the-mirror lending (if you can fog a mirror, we’ll give you a loan). If you have the same or more liquid assets compared with the loan balance, no questions are asked about any job or income. That section of the application is left blank. For example, you are applying for a $750,000 mortgage. You are currently unemployed. And you can show $750,000 of money between your bank and brokerage accounts. You qualify for this fog-the-mirror-2.0 loan. As an aside, fog-the-mirror 1.0 includes no job or income, just nine months of payment reserves and excellent credit. No need to be able to match your mortgage balance with your liquid assets. Fog the mirror 1.0 carries a 8-8.5% interest rate on a 30-year fixed with about 2 points cost. The version 2.0 rate is between 7.5% and 8% with 2 points. Related Articles Housing | 30-year mortgage down to October levels at 6.69% Housing | Privatizing Fannie Mae would cause mortgage rates to soar, economist says Housing | FHFA loan limits rising to $1.2 million in LA and OC, top $806,000 in Inland Empire Housing | California affordability fixes: 3.5% loans, 50% raises, or 33% home-price cuts? Housing | ‘Difference is Trump’: American homebuyers brace for rate pain Other exotic loans Mixed-use: More and more new buildings are offering a combination of retail space and homes. Industry jargon for this is “mixed use.” For the most part, it’s hard to find mixed-use financing. One lender allows residential or commercial zoning for two to eight units, with a loan amount up to $2 million. Not bad. The rate is roughly 7.25% for a 30-year fixed with 2 points. Foreign borrowers: ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) in lieu of a Social Security number, DACA and foreign national loans all were on display. The foreign national loan required zero U.S. credit, so long as the borrower is putting at least 30% down. The investor-borrower cannot reside in the U.S. Talk about the world being your oyster. When mortgage shopping and there seems to be nothing you want or need, be sure to have at least three mortgage brokers tell you the same thing: “It’s not out there.” Otherwise, keep looking, because you just might find a program that fits your needs. Freddie Mac rate news The 30-year fixed rate averaged 6.69%, 12 basis points lower than last week. The 15-year fixed rate averaged 5.96%, 14 basis points lower than last week. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a 2.8% mortgage application increase compared with one week ago. Bottom line: Assuming a borrower gets the average 30-year fixed rate on a conforming $806,500 loan, last year’s payment was $183 more than this week’s payment of $5,199. What I see: Locally, well-qualified borrowers can get the following fixed-rate mortgages with one point: A 30-year FHA at 5.625%, a 15-year conventional at 5.5%, a 30-year conventional at 6.25%, a 15-year conventional high balance at 5.99% ($806,501 to $1,209,750 in LA and OC and $806,501 to $1,077,550 in San Diego), a 30-year-high balance conventional at 6.5% and a jumbo 30-year fixed at 6.375%. Eye-catcher loan program of the week: A 30-year mortgage, with 30% down locked for the first 5 years at 5.875% with 1 point cost. Jeff Lazerson, president of Mortgage Grader, can be reached at 949-322-8640 or jlazerson@mortgagegrader.com .

PASAY CITY, Philippines , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The SM Group is approaching the coming year with cautious optimism, encouraged by the continued growth of the Philippine economy. SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said that despite ongoing challenges of peso volatility and higher inflation, the business sector has adapted well. Consistent demand sustained household spending in the third quarter, with Household Final Consumption Expenditure posting a year-on-year growth of 5.1%, maintaining the same level in the same quarter last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. "Any moderation in inflation should trigger a strong confidence rebound. This could create opportunities in consumer-focused sectors in the country and we are poised to cater to these evolving demands," Mr. DyBuncio said. To cater to growing demand, SM continues to expand into more underserved areas, contributing to sustainable economic development and collaborating with government stakeholders to enhance access to modern retail, financial services, and integrated property developments. "By investing and expanding to more areas nationwide, SM creates new markets and improves access to these essential sectors, serving more communities and helping stimulate sustained economic activities," he said. Mr. DyBuncio also said SM continues to invest in promising ventures such as renewable energy and logistics, that foster economic activity. SM has invested in the clean energy industry through Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC) which produces 300 Megawatts of geothermal steam supply. SM aims to continue to develop geothermal concessions through PGPC in support of the Department of Energy's goal of reaching 50% renewable energy supply by 2040. To encourage circularity towards green energy production, SM's property arm, SM Prime Holdings partnered with GUUN Co. Ltd. ( GUUN ) to implement the Japanese technique of reducing landfill impact. The technology converts non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle packaging into alternative fuel. SM's banking arm, BDO Unibank is one of the largest funders of renewable energy projects. BDO has funded PHP898 billion in sustainable finance, including loans to 59 renewable energy projects as of December 2023. In logistics and tourism, the improvement of transport networks across the country's archipelago connects tourist and industrial areas that will help create inclusive growth. SM though its subsidiary 2GO launched MV Masigla and MV Masikap in 2024 to help better connect goods to 19 ports across the country including Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Manila , further supporting the government's push for medium term growth through an upgraded tourism infrastructure and ecosystem. "Our focus for 2025 will be to drive purposeful growth, empowering communities and partners through our investments towards a sustainable future," Mr. DyBuncio said. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sm-approaches-2025-with-cautious-optimism-302339448.html SOURCE SM Investments CorporationHOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data Journey LLC, a leading woman and minority-owned data center provider, is proud to announce the acquisition of its third property, the Spartanburg site, from Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: GREE) for $12.1 million. The purchase is a significant milestone for Data Journey as it marks their entry into the South Carolina market and supports the company’s aggressive growth trajectory. Under the leadership of CEO and Founder Dr. Ishnella Kaur Azad, Data Journey is focused on building a more inclusive, sustainable, and scalable future for the data center industry. As the first woman and minority-owned company in this sector, Data Journey is uniquely positioned to look at the entire ecosystem, ensuring that their operations not only meet the growing demands of their customers but also promote environmentally and socially responsible practices that benefit both the company and the community. "I’m excited about the acquisition of the Spartanburg property, which marks an important step in Data Journey's expansion and our mission to provide cutting-edge IT infrastructure solutions," said Dr. Ishnella Kaur Azad, CEO of Data Journey. “This acquisition not only accelerates our growth in the South Carolina market but also strengthens our commitment to sustainable practices across all stages of our operations. The foundation laid by Greenidge at this site allows us to move quickly toward developing a state-of-the-art data center that will deliver unmatched scalability, security, and efficiency for our customers.” The Spartanburg property, which spans 152 acres, offers a strategic location with significant power access, initially providing 60 MW of capacity, scalable up to 100 MW. Greenidge previously purchased the site in 2021 for $15 million, recognizing its potential as a power-rich industrial location. Following a series of transactions, including the 2023 sale of 23 subdivided acres to NYDIG ABL LLC, the property’s remaining land is now poised for its next chapter as a key data center hub for Data Journey. “Data Journey’s purchase of the Spartanburg site marks an exciting milestone in our growth journey,” Dr. Azad continued. “We’re not just building data centers; we’re creating sustainable, forward-thinking infrastructure that supports our customers while minimizing our environmental footprint. As we continue to expand, we’ll ensure that our practices remain centered around the long-term well-being of both our stakeholders and the communities we serve.” The Spartanburg facility will serve as a cornerstone in Data Journey’s broader strategy to establish six new sites by 2025, strengthening their portfolio and their ability to provide customers with scalable and secure data solutions. The site’s strategic power infrastructure and development-ready capabilities will allow Data Journey to quickly bring innovative, high-performance solutions to market. Data Journey’s acquisition of the Spartanburg property is expected to close in Q1 2025. Both Greenidge and Data Journey are optimistic about the potential for future collaboration and additional data center developments across the U.S. For more information on Data Journey’s growth plans and commitment to sustainability, visit DataJourney.com . About Data Journey LLC Data Journey LLC is a leading woman and minority-owned data center provider, offering innovative IT infrastructure solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of modern enterprises. The company is dedicated to sustainability, scalability, and creating long-term value for its customers and the communities it serves. With a focus on cutting-edge security, power-efficient technologies, and environmental stewardship, Data Journey is committed to advancing the data center industry and providing world-class solutions for the digital age. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f8d5880-a91c-4060-bf65-7026bac1e4e3Nvidia's stock dips after China opens probe of the AI chip company for violating anti-monopoly lawsDusty May, No. 14 Michigan try to continue strong start vs. Arkansas

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Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street Thursday, as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation, a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up 26.6% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. ___ AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed. Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to A Nebraska man is getting title to his home back, Technology stocks led a broad rally on Wall Street TuesdayFoxconn Invests in AI Data Center Firm Zettabyte to Boost Sustainable Computing

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Google Street View | PACE vans help seniors make it to their medical appointments. Access to senior care in the most rural areas of the Central Valley has long been a challenge. Transportation, managing doctor and specialist visits or struggling to find in-home care options, many seniors in the Valley are left with a “what about me?” feeling. For Tulare and Kings counties, help is on the way at the new PACE Center. Opened this past summer, the center fills a much-needed role for senior care in an underserved region. But how did senior health care get so difficult to access in the Valley, and what does PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) hope to bring to the community? It’s well known that the region has trouble recruiting health care professionals. That’s exacerbated by the sheer demand as the population ages. Rural areas have it the worst. Anshuman Srivastava, a Visalia physician, said that nationwide, 57 million Americans reside in rural areas. The Central Valley has historically fallen behind urban regions in senior care access. “Because of this the health disparity has gotten worse compared to the urban areas,” Srivastava said. “If you compare the data...we have around a 21,000-health-professional shortage in rural areas compared to only a 900-shortage in urban areas.” Srivastava said the issue often stems from prioritization of other essential needs over health — not due to lack of concern, but lack of awareness. “I’m not going to blame any people, patients or populations about it,” Srivastava said. “It’s more because health was never a priority for them.” Grady Dodson, the Visalia PACE Program Director at Family Healthcare Network, agreed that a lack of health care professional incentives also have caused the Valley to fall behind. The opening of a new PACE Center, providing senior care to residents in Tulare and Kings counties, hopes to change the narrative for senior care. PACE stands for Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly and aims to provide just that — a continuum of well-rounded, holistic care for seniors, comprising many of the various specialties the community requires under one roof. Founded by Dr. William Gee and social worker Marie-Louise Ansak in San Francisco in 1971, the program keeps senior citizens out of hospitals and nursing homes, focusing on improving the quality of life for communities’ most health-vulnerable populations. “We want to see seniors age in place, remain in their communities,” Dodson said. “We know the quality of life for them is much higher there than it is, per say, going into a skilled nursing home.” The PACE Center in Visalia is funded by Medicare and functions as its members’ primary care provider, along with offering specialist services and partnering with local specialists to fill the gaps not directly provided by PACE itself. The 25,000 square-foot center, located at 500 E. School Ave. in Visalia, also boasts its own facilities including a day center for recreational therapy activities. Programming is meant to combat depression and loneliness — something that is elevated in the senior community. At the PACE center, members receive a hot lunch, engage in games and activities and also have access to a quiet room, as well as bathroom facilities with showers for members in need of hygiene assistance. “It’s really a holistic approach to their care,” he said. “The PACE Program also helps with taking care of their medications.” PACE’s system has patients working closely with an interdisciplinary team (IDT) to determine their individual needs. “Each member of the IDT, they all do their assessments — they spend a great amount of time with the participant,” Dodson said, evaluating their diets, social needs and other health concerns. “Each new participant gets that thoroughness to individualize their care plan.” Dodson added that each patient also has their own voice, granted the ability to advocate for themselves. Families also have the ability to voice their concerns. “It really becomes personal because there’s not a ‘cookie cutter,’ unlike other health care models that are out there,” he said. “PACE is guided by that principle.” Dodson said that through PACE’s work, MediCal has saved $131 million in health care costs through finding correct services for patients, preventing overlap of services and improving general day-to-day life through continuous care. In addition to the personalized services offered at PACE, the center also offers transportation — a key need for many senior residents in more rural communities. “Many of our seniors suffer from health issues simply because of a lack of transportation,” Dodson said. “If you have parents and loved ones, aunts and uncles, grandparents — some of them are not getting there because you’re busy at work and they can’t get to their next appointment.” An employee in the health care field for 17 years, Dodson, a Valley native, said that he has seen many different medical models, but said that PACE’s holistic approach and access to care is second-to-none in the health care industry. The center’s treatment of its members differs from the standard health care industry’s technique of “for service” visits. “Similar to Costco, they’re a member,” Dodson said. “You don’t treat members the same way you treat a customer; a customer’s going to be a one-time shopper...that’s the current model we have in health care now.” WelbeHealth company recently announced plans to build a second Visalia PACE center — 17,000 square feet at 1150 S. Ben Maddox Way in a complex that already includes a Kaweah Health clinic and DaVita Dialysis, reported the Sun-Gazette newspaper. WelbeHealth is a physician-led public benefit company founded in 2015 that provides comprehensive health care services for seniors. There are 99 PACE Centers and Alternative Care Sites in 27 counties serving 22,000 participants annually throughout California. Tulare and Kings county residents interested in PACE must be 55 years or older, live in the region served by a local PACE Center, be certified in the State of California as requiring nursing home-level care and be able to live safely in the community with PACE assistance. The Tulare/Kings County PACE Center can be reached at (877) 326-PACE (7223) or by email at pace@fhcn.org. Visitors are also welcome to stop by for more information at the PACE Center in Visalia, located at 500 E. School Ave. Access to senior care in the most rural areas of In a competitive real estate business that is constantly changing, On Tuesday, Dec. 10, The Business Journal hosted its 11th Access Plus Capital, a nonprofit community development financial institution thatInvestors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Amgen AMGN . And retail traders should know. We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga. Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with AMGN, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen. So how do we know what these investors just did? Today, Benzinga 's options scanner spotted 11 uncommon options trades for Amgen. This isn't normal. The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 45% bullish and 36%, bearish. Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 6 are puts, for a total amount of $372,685, and 5 are calls, for a total amount of $171,796. What's The Price Target? After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $220.0 and $282.5 for Amgen, spanning the last three months. Insights into Volume & Open Interest Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Amgen's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Amgen's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $220.0 to $282.5 over the preceding 30 days. Amgen Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview Significant Options Trades Detected: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume AMGN PUT SWEEP BULLISH 12/20/24 $4.05 $3.85 $3.85 $270.00 $152.0K 1.3K 822 AMGN PUT SWEEP BULLISH 12/20/24 $4.3 $3.95 $3.95 $270.00 $54.9K 1.3K 148 AMGN PUT SWEEP NEUTRAL 12/20/24 $3.1 $2.86 $2.98 $267.50 $50.4K 625 170 AMGN PUT SWEEP NEUTRAL 12/20/24 $3.75 $2.69 $2.94 $267.50 $45.0K 625 180 AMGN PUT SWEEP BULLISH 12/20/24 $4.25 $3.85 $3.85 $270.00 $43.8K 1.3K 427 About Amgen Amgen is a leader in biotechnology-based human therapeutics. Flagship drugs include red blood cell boosters Epogen and Aranesp, immune system boosters Neupogen and Neulasta, and Enbrel and Otezla for inflammatory diseases. Amgen introduced its first cancer therapeutic, Vectibix, in 2006 and markets bone-strengthening drug Prolia/Xgeva (approved 2010) and Evenity (2019). The acquisition of Onyx bolstered the firm's therapeutic oncology portfolio with Kyprolis. Recent launches include Repatha (cholesterol-lowering), Aimovig (migraine), Lumakras (lung cancer), and Tezspire (asthma). The 2023 Horizon acquisition brings several rare-disease drugs, including thyroid eye disease drug Tepezza. Amgen also has a growing biosimilar portfolio. Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Amgen, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance. Amgen's Current Market Status Currently trading with a volume of 1,698,248, the AMGN's price is down by -0.17%, now at $272.95. RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold. Anticipated earnings release is in 54 days. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access . Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Amgen, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Fine Gael won 35 seats in the 2020 election, but 18 of those TDs did not seek re-election in Friday’s poll. An exit poll puts the party’s support at 21%, a fraction of a percentage behind the main opposition party Sinn Fein. Mr Harris, the outgoing Taoiseach, was elected with 16,869 first preference votes, well above the quota. He celebrated with his wife Caoimhe, his parents Bart and Mary, his sister Gemma and his political team at the count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Ahead of his re-election, Mr Harris told reporters he was “cautiously optimistic” about the election result and said it was “clear that my party will gain seats”. “It’s also clear that Fine Gael will top the poll in at least 10 constituencies, many more than we did the last time, that we will gain seats in constituencies where we haven’t had seats in many years, like Tipperary South and Waterford, and that we will add second seats in other constituencies as well,” he said. “I think the people of Ireland have now spoken. We now have to work out exactly what they have said, and that is going to take a little bit of time.” In one of the five consecutive broadcast media rounds he did from the Greystones count centre, he said there were a lot of areas where there were “straight shoot-outs” between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for final seats. He described the Sinn Fein vote as “pretty significantly down”, the Fianna Fail vote as “marginally down” and the Fine Gael vote as “static” compared with its 2020 vote. He said it was “a very close, a very competitive election” and that “we haven’t seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it”. He said: “It was predicted by many that I would become the Taoiseach for a brief period of time, take over from Leo Varadkar, and then have to rebuild my party from the opposition benches as Sinn Fein led a government. “We don’t know what’s going to happen on government formation yet, but that is now looking less likely than it was.” He acknowledged that it was “a very difficult day” for the Green Party and paid tribute to their work in the coalition government, alongside his party and Fianna Fail. “Definitely, politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented,” he said. Fine Gael minister Helen McEntee said that her party’s campaign had been “positive”. “The feeling on the doors was very much that people were relatively happy with the government,” she said on RTE Radio. “It will come down to the last seats and it will come down to transfers,” she said of the final result, adding that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were performing better than the exit poll estimated.US sex-abuse watchdog fires investigator after learning of his arrest for stealing drug money DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport abruptly fired one of its investigators last month after learning he’d been arrested for stealing money confiscated after a drug bust he was part of during his previous job as a police officer. Jason Krasley left his job with the Allentown Police Department in Pennsylvania in 2021 and was hired by the Denver-based SafeSport center to look into sensitive cases involving sex abuse and harassment. The center said it conducts multiple interviews and a “comprehensive background check” of potential employees. The center said it was looking into cases Krasley handled to make sure they were dealt with appropriately. Jim Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Bill Courtney takes over to finish season CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Jim Larrañaga has stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately. Larrañaga will be replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season. The now-former coach says he loves the university but believes it's the right time to step away. Larrañaga says "I’ve tried every which way to keep this going.” Larrañaga joins a long line of prominent college basketball coaches who have left their jobs in recent years citing the changes in the game and the challenge of coaching in the name, image and likeness era. Cowboys shutting down CeeDee Lamb with 2 games to go over receiver's shoulder issue FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team says additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team says surgery isn't expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend’s 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay. At least 65 million tune in for Netflix NFL Christmas Day games. NBA holiday ratings also skyrocket LeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday’s doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens’ 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City’s 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA’s five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. Pat Riley says the Miami Heat will not trade Jimmy Butler ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If Jimmy Butler wants a trade, the Miami Heat have no plans to make him happy. Heat President Pat Riley — in a rare move — spoke out to address rumors Thursday, saying the team has no plans to trade Butler. It’s a clear sign that, if necessary, the team will be willing to let Butler leave as a free agent and get nothing in return. Riley says in a release distributed by the team "we usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches.” Penn State offensive coordinator Kotelnicki's creativity has the Nittany Lions humming in the CFP Penn State's offense is thriving under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Nittany Lions are one of a handful of Power Four schools averaging 200 yards per game rushing and receiving heading into their College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Boise State. Penn State has one of the most unique offensive weapons in the country in tight end Tyler Warren. Warren has 92 receptions this season and has become a threat out of the backfield, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Organizers say two sailors have died in Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid wild weather conditions SYDNEY (AP) — Organizers said that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the yacht race, has said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail. The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning. Haaland penalty failure and Fernandes red card pile on woes for City and United in Premier League Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card have compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. City dropped more points in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton. Haaland had a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The defending champions have only won one of its last 13 games in all competitions. City is languishing in seventh place while United is 14th after a 2-0 loss at Wolverhampton. Fernandes was sent off in the 47th. First-place Liverpool beat Leicester 3-1 in foggy conditions at Anfield and leads by seven points. Simona Halep withdraws from Australian Open qualifying because of knee and shoulder pain MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has pulled out of Australian Open qualifying and a tuneup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, because of pain in her knee and shoulder. Thursday's news represents the latest interruption of her comeback from a drug suspension. Halep posted on social media that she was feeling poorly after participating in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old Romanian said she is planning to next enter the Transylvania Open in her home country, where play begins Feb. 3. Halep was granted a wild-card entry for qualifying in the Australian Open last week. Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC's top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit. Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce also became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten.

It has taken new Michigan coach Dusty May just nine games to guide the Wolverines into the Top 25. May and the Wolverines enter the poll at No. 14 and strive to continue their strong start when they face Arkansas in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday night in New York. Michigan (8-1) has reeled off seven straight wins to crack the rankings for the first time in nearly 25 months. "All this stuff doesn't matter to me," May said of the rankings. "It does change the complexion of what we think about and things like that. Overall, I like where we are. We have guys who work well together and they put in the time." The Wolverines look to remain hot against the Razorbacks (7-2). John Calipari's first Arkansas squad has won its past two games. Calipari spent the previous 15 seasons as coach of Kentucky and claims he's excited to be in Arkansas. "I'm not bitter about anything. I'm not," Calipari said. "This is the first page of the first chapter of a new book. The timing for me and my career and my life, this is perfect. And I appreciate the fans and everybody giving me the opportunity to do that." The Razorbacks will be searching for their initial milestone victory under Calipari during their first visit to Madison Square Garden since 1997. Their losses this season are to then-No. 8 Baylor and Illinois on neutral courts. Calipari grabbed several players out of the transfer portal in the offseason, including guard Johnell Davis, one of the stars of the Florida Atlantic team that reached the 2023 Final Four. That squad was coached by May. One of the other Florida Atlantic starters was center Vladislav Goldin, who followed May to Michigan after the coach was hired in the offseason. Goldin has strung together three straight solid games, including a season-best 24 points in a 67-64 road win over then-No. 11 Wisconsin on Dec. 3. He followed that up with 20 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in Saturday's 85-83 home win over Iowa. "He's just been a guy that you can see when he's really locked in and focused there's a different level of play," said May, "and I think now he's finding that level of play." Goldin is part of a balanced attack. Roddy Gayle Jr. averages a team-best 12.2 points per game, followed by Tre Donaldson and Danny Wolf at 12.1 and Goldin at 12.0. Wolf averages a team-best 10 rebounds per game. Arkansas is coming off a 75-60 home victory over UTSA on Saturday. Adou Thiero excelled by matching his career high of 26 points to go with 10 rebounds. Thiero scored 17 points in the second half when the Razorbacks overcame a five-point halftime deficit to outscore the Roadrunners by 20. "We've been seeing that the whole summer," Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile said of Thiero's strong play. "Him dominating. Dominating in practice and (Calipari) pushing him. This is just a reflection of the work he's done this summer and him trusting the coaches." Thiero leads the Razorbacks with averages of 18.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. Boogie Fland is averaging 15 points and Zvonimir Ivisic is scoring 12 per game. Davis (9.3) started slow with just two double-digit outings in the first seven games before averaging 12.5 over the last two games. Michigan holds a 4-3 edge in the all-time series. The Wolverines recorded an 80-67 home victory on Dec. 8, 2012 in the most recent meeting. --Field Level Media

Carolina Hurricanes (16-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Florida Panthers (14-9-1, in the Atlantic Division) Sunrise, Florida; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -123, Hurricanes +103; over/under is 6.5 BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes hit the ice in Eastern Conference action. Florida has gone 7-5-1 at home and 14-9-1 overall. The Panthers have a 3-0-1 record in one-goal games. Carolina has a 7-4-1 record on the road and a 16-6-1 record overall. The Hurricanes are 7-2-0 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent. Saturday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Panthers won the previous matchup 6-3. TOP PERFORMERS: Sam Bennett has 11 goals and 11 assists for the Panthers. Sam Reinhart has seven goals and four assists over the last 10 games. Jack Roslovic has 12 goals and three assists for the Hurricanes. Seth Jarvis has four goals and six assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 4-6-0, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.1 penalties and 10.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game. Hurricanes: 6-3-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.3 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. INJURIES: Panthers: None listed. Hurricanes: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .COLLEGE FB NOTES

It has taken new Michigan coach Dusty May just nine games to guide the Wolverines into the Top 25. May and the Wolverines enter the poll at No. 14 and strive to continue their strong start when they face Arkansas in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday night in New York. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the highest unemployment in Georgia using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Counties are ranked by unemployment rate in October. Click for more. Counties with the highest unemployment in Georgia