BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's Republican-controlled Legislature approved a constitutional amendment on Friday that would allow them to expand the number of crimes in which juveniles between 14 and 16 years old could be tried as adults. The state's constitution currently outlines 15 violent juvenile offenses, such as rape, murder and armed robbery, which prosecutors can handle in adult courts. Any changes to that list of crimes must be approved by voters. But the constitutional amendment sponsored by Republican Sen. Heather Cloud — which require voter approval in March 29 elections to take effect — would allow legislators the power by a two-thirds vote to decide what juvenile crimes can be transferred to adult courts. It's part of a wider push in Louisiana, which already has the second-highest incarceration rate in the country behind Mississippi, to implement tough-on-crime policies under Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Since taking office in January, Landry has passed laws to treat 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system, largely eliminate parole and allow surgical castration as punishment for certain sex crimes against children. Supporters of the measure to make it easier to expand prosecution of juveniles as adults — backed only by Republican legislators — say it will grant lawmakers more flexibility to give prosecutors the tools they need to increase public safety. Vesting authority in the constitution "has hamstringed Louisiana from being able to address changes in an ever-changing juvenile crime landscape,” Cloud said on the Senate floor on Nov. 14. Opponents, including Democrats, social workers and criminal justice reform advocates, said specific offenses routing juveniles to adult courts should remain part of the constitution to keep this power in the hands of voters. “We’re taking the people’s voice away over how children should be treated in this state,” Democratic Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews said. Critics also argue the changes fail to confront the root causes of juvenile crime, namely poverty and underinvestment in education. Transferring juveniles into adult court would also prevent them from accessing age-appropriate rehabilitative services, criminal justice reform advocates and social workers testified during the legislative session. “I can view this in no other way than just giving up on children,” Democratic Sen. Royce Duplessis said on the Senate floor. “We’re going to say we’re just going to treat them all as adults, and we’re not going to do our part as a society, as policymakers, to address what’s really failing — this is not going to do a single thing to deter crime." Some lawmakers said that juveniles committing violent crimes had been deprived of care from a young age and were past the point of rehabilitation, blaming their families as opposed to societal factors. “Some of these kids are already lost when they’re 2 years old,” said Republican Rep. Tony Bacala in a House committee hearing. Unless they are transferred to an adult court, young people tried in juvenile court can only be imprisoned until age 21 according to state law. The effect of the proposed constitutional change will be to open the door for Republican lawmakers to give prosecutors the power to hand down lengthy prison sentences to 14- to 16-year-olds, including for less severe crimes, said Bruce Reilly, deputy director of the Louisiana-based criminal justice reform advocacy group Voice of the Experienced. The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association said they supported the measure. But New Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson said she was concerned the measure would “almost certainly further strain our already short staff” in the jail system. Federal law still considers 17-year-olds and younger as juveniles and requires them to be kept separate from adult inmates. District Attorney Tony Clayton, who represents West Baton Rouge and two other parishes, said he would not try a juvenile as an adult for having “marijuana in his wallet,” but for violent crimes. Violent crimes are on the decline nationwide according to the latest data from FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting. Since mid-2023, most violent crime has also been down in New Orleans, which in 2022 had the highest homicide rate among large cities nationwide. Conservative lawmakers argued this was the result of tough-on-crime penalties passed this year and Republican Gov. Jeff Landry's decision to send state troops to New Orleans. Lawmakers supporting the amendment have focused on high-profile violent crimes by juveniles, such as a deadly New Orleans carjacking case committed by teenagers — who were charged as adults — in which an elderly woman was beaten and dragged to her death. Louisiana is one of five states that classifies 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96Acclaimed Afro-Indie singer Njerae is back to serenade the airwaves with her latest love song, “Nyumbani”, set for release this Friday. The track, a heartfelt ode to love and belonging, is produced by the renowned Wonda Magik, while the captivating visualizer is directed by the talented King Khassidy. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp “Nyumbani,” meaning “home” in Swahili, promises to be a soulful and intimate offering that showcases Njerae venturing a profound and warm Amapiano sound—a seamless blend of rich Afro-inspired melodies and contemporary indie vibes. This highly-anticipated release comes at an exciting time in Njerae’s career. The singer recently hit a major milestone of 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, solidifying her place as a rising star in the Kenyan music scene. Adding to her growing accolades, Njerae has also earned a continental nomination at the prestigious Africa Choice Awards (ACA), set to take place in Lagos, Nigeria on December 8th. Njerae expressed her excitement about the upcoming release, saying, “‘Nyumbani’ is a song that speaks to the universal longing for love and the comfort of home. It’s a celebration of connection, and I can’t wait to share it with the world” she mentions. Fans can expect a visualizer as compelling as the song itself, with King Khassidy bringing his visionary direction to the project. The collaboration with Wonda Magik and Khassidy marks another milestone in Njerae’s journey, as she continues to collaborate with some of the most talented creatives in the industry. “Nyumbani” will be available on all major streaming platforms this Friday. Follow Njerae on her social media platforms for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . STONY BROOK, N.Y. (AP) — Joseph Octave scored 24 points as Stony Brook beat Maine 74-72 on Saturday. Octave also added five rebounds for the Seawolves (4-8). Ben Wight shot 4 of 7 from the field and 3 for 3 from the line to add 11 points. CJ Luster II shot 3 for 8 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points. Kellen Tynes led the way for the Black Bears (8-6) with 15 points, four assists, four steals and two blocks. Jaden Clayton added 15 points, four assists and three steals for Maine. AJ Lopez finished with 13 points and four assists. Stony Brook went into halftime leading Maine 34-30. Octave put up 10 points in the half. Octave led Stony Brook with 14 points in the second half as his team was outscored by two points over the final half but held on for the victory. Both teams next play Sunday. Stony Brook visits Albany (NY) and Maine plays Boston University at home. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced a multi-year strategic partnership to empower millions of Amazon sellers to manage their finances, stay compliant, access capital, and grow their business. By leveraging Intuit’s AI-driven expert platform, millions of Amazon sellers will be able to discover and access Intuit’s platform seamlessly, benefiting from powerful financial insights like profitability, cash flow, and estimated tax liabilities to fuel their growth. QuickBooks will become Amazon’s preferred partner for financial management solutions integrated directly in Amazon Seller Central, the Amazon site where sellers manage their businesses. “Intuit and Amazon are providing financial tools for millions of Amazon sellers to thrive in Amazon’s store,” said Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi. “We know businesses that use Intuit’s QuickBooks platform have a nearly 20-point higher success rate than those who don’t. We’re proud to partner with Amazon to bring the benefits of our AI-driven expert platform to help sellers boost their revenue and profitability, save time, and grow with confidence.” “Amazon is innovating on behalf of sellers every day to support the growth and success of their businesses, which includes providing sellers with streamlined access to third-party tools that offer additional efficiencies and capabilities to help them operate their business,” said Dharmesh Mehta, VP WW Selling Partner Services at Amazon. “Together with Intuit, we’re working to equip our selling partners with additional financial tools and access to capital to help them scale efficiently.” This partnership will help Amazon sellers manage and grow their businesses with real-time financial updates, powered by new integrations. Sellers will have the ability to bring their existing Amazon data into Intuit’s AI-powered business platform, ultimately making it easier for sellers to understand and optimize profitability, manage cash flow, access capital, and simplify taxes with confidence. Key benefits for sellers include: Intuit’s AI-powered business platform helps small and mid-market businesses gain deep insights into where they stand and helps them stay compliant and organized so they can focus on growing their business. This includes access to a robust financial and workforce management platform, with multi-entity financial management, payroll, bill pay and payments, marketing automation, live expert help, third-party integrations, and more. Intuit’s objective is to leverage its platform capabilities to grow with Amazon sellers and fuel their success. Intuit’s AI-driven expert platform and products are built in keeping with the company’s commitment to data privacy, security, and responsible AI governance. Intuit safeguards customer data and protects privacy using industry-leading technology and practices and adheres to responsible AI principles. Intuit is a member of the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute Consortium, established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Intuit and Amazon will start rolling out these capabilities in mid-2025. The companies will initially focus on delivering capabilities for sellers in the U.S., with international availability to follow. is the global financial technology platform that powers prosperity for the people and communities we serve. With approximately 100 million customers worldwide using products such as , , , and , we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to prosper. We never stop working to find new, innovative ways to make that possible. Please visit us at and find us on for the latest information about Intuit and our products and services. Sara Day, Intuit PR 650-336-3123Futuristic central processor unit. Powerful Quantum CPU on PCB motherboard with data transfers. For a while now, there’s been a lot of talk about export controls in the semiconductor industry – but now it seems like the single largest U.S. tech company by market cap, Nvidia, is likely to end up on the Biden administration’s naughty list, just in time for Christmas. This month, the industry is seeing a flurry of reports about enhanced regulatory controls of U.S. chipmakers selling products to China – with Nvidia mentioned by name. Specifically, the Biden administration has asked Nvidia to look into how its chips ended up in China, despite specific laws preventing such sales. In reaction to the U.S. Department of Commerce communications, Nvidia reportedly reaffirmed its commitment to export controls, and criticized a “gray market” (some would call it black) where third-party resellers can get around those rules. The company is also allegedly increasing its lobbying presence in Washington, and hiring people from the federal government, in what some say as an effort to anticipate a new regulatory environment. Forget Chrome—Google Starts Tracking All Your Devices In 8 Weeks Bitcoin Suddenly Surges Back To $100,000 On Huge $20 Trillion Price Prediction FBI Warns Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail Users—Check 3 Things To Stop Attacks Cracking Down on International Chip Sales For a while, it was no secret that companies like Nvidia and AMD had numerous ways to make end runs around these regulations from the U.S. government. “Joe Biden's final move to stop China from racing ahead of the US in AI may be too little too late,” wrote Ashley Belanger at Ars Tecnica Dec. 2 , presumably in reference to the prior inability of the government to rein in thse kinds of sales. One example is where the companies will manufacture slightly different technology so that the chips comply with export controls. Making a lower capacity chip can allow the company to get a greenlight to ship that technology to China. Or they can simply sell to third parties and places like Singapore and Malaysia, who will then resale to the Chinese. A brand-new Biden administration change is attempting to close that particular loophole, according to Wall Street Journal reports – an executive order that is allegedly pending in the White House would limit sales of chips anywhere in the world, to stem efforts to smuggle or resell to China on the gray market. Insiders contend that U.S. chip makers are doing all they can to prevent this executive order from coming out, as explained by articles like this one from the NYT. Other Concerns In addition, the U.S. government is also wondering why American ship technology is ending up in Russian military equipment involved in the war in Ukraine. But back to Nvidia: a new antitrust investigation has chipped away at the company’s stock value, although that ticker rests at a healthy $131 and change as of press time. Meanwhile, the Chinese are announcing banning certain raw material exports to the U.S. of rare earth metals gallium and germanium. In terms of trying to enforce U.S. chip export controls, that sort of activity might be described as the biggest most intense game of Whack-a-Mole ever. Certain types of black markets are almost impossible to control, and it’s unlikely that one country, especially the U.S. where cash is king, is going to be able to gatekeep all of its private sector sales effectively. Take a look at this excerpt from a piece by Barath Harithas and Andreas Schumacher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , where the entire essay goes over the thorny and Byzantine history of U.S. export controls over the last three years or so: “While a piece of semiconductor manufacturing equipment cannot be exported to China from U.S. factories, the same equipment produced in an overseas facility can legally be sold to an advanced logic fab in China, provided no U.S. persons are involved in its manufacturing, sale, installation, or servicing, even if the customer is on the U.S. entity list. This effectively created a backdoor in the control regime. To address this, the United States introduced a Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) for semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME). The FDPR subjects products made abroad to U.S. export restrictions if produced using U.S.-origin technology, software, or equipment. This move aims to prevent companies from circumventing restrictions by relocating production or relying on foreign facilities to supply restricted technologies to entity-listed Chinese firms.” But one thing is for sure – people with skin in the game are paying attention. They want to understand how trade control activity between the U.S. and China is going to affect the next generation of data centers and LLM applications that are having a huge impact on our businesses and our lives. In short, the technology race is heating up – and semiconductor technology is in the limelight. Keep an eye out here as I continue to look at the trends shaping the market, the geopolitical forces behind those trends, and what all of the players are doing as we get to the end of a banner year for technology.After a surge in betting on prediction markets for outcomes of events like the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the next market that is generating plenty of interest and concern from regulators is the outcome of the murder trial of Luigi Mangione. What Happened : Mangione recently pleaded not guilty to New York state charges that include murder in the first degree of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Recently extradited from Pennsylvania to New York, Mangione also faces federal charges that could lead to a death penalty sentence if he is found guilty. Mangione’s story has captured plenty of attention in America as evidence linked the killing of Thompson, who was CEO of the insurance company owned by UnitedHealth Group UNH , to Mangione allegedly targeting the health insurance sector that he viewed as putting greed ahead of consumer health. Ahead of Mangione's extradition and court hearings, people in the U.S. and around the world have been able to bet on the outcomes thanks to the rise of prediction markets. Kalshi , which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, took wagers on several items beginning on Nov. 11 and bragged about the numerous markets on social media platform X . Among the Kalshi markets: whether Mangione would be extradited, whether he would plead guilty, if he would be convicted, if he or a family member had insurance with UnitedHealthcare and whether he acted alone in the alleged murder of Thompson. Kalshi halted the Mangione markets, but they can still be found on the website through a search. The markets are listed as "paused." Kalshi has put the blame for the halt in the hands of regulators, according to a report from Bloomberg . The CFTC bans futures trading for war, terrorism and crimes like assassinations, according to the report. Prediction market Polymarket has multiple markets open connected to the Mangione case, including whether a YouTube channel connected to him is real, if he was a lone actor, if he will fire his lawyer, whether his parents were UnitedHealthcare customers and if he used psychedelics. Polymarket is not regulated in the United States. On Polymarket, users can deposit funds using USDC USDC/USD via the Polygon MATIC/USD network or can deposit directly from a crypto account with Ethereum ETH/USD . BetUS , which is regulated in certain territories, is offering betting odds on several Mangione-related outcomes like whether he will plead guilty before May 31, 2025. The betting odds are set at -350 for No and +225 for Yes. BetUS also said it will offer lines on whether Mangione used psychedelics and if he will fire his lawyer in 2025. Read Also: UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Suspect: Chronic Pain, Unabomber Fascination, Isolation Details Emerge Why It's Important: Mangione's case has led to plenty of support from the public due to hatred for the health insurance industry by some, an item touched on by popular podcaster Joe Rogan. Supporters have shown up outside courtrooms with signs backing the alleged murderer. The mention of Mangione on a recent episode of "Saturday Night Live" led members of the audience to cheer at his name. Prediction markets have risen in popularity thanks to the 2024 election and are able to offer markets quickly on a variety of topics and viral news stories. When it comes to murder cases, there will likely be push back from regulators and members of the public who see a moral obligation to avoid profiting from bad actors. Read Next: Luigi Mangione Documentaries In The Works From Award-Winning Creators — And Possibly Rapper 50 Cent Luigi Mangione photo courtesy of Pennsylvania State Police. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Check out 2024’s most luxe Advent calendars — including a $115K lineup dripping with gold and diamonds
A recent advisory from the United States Surgeon General has made it clear — parents and caregivers are burned out. In a 2023 poll of more than 3,100 American parents, nearly 50 per cent reported experiencing debilitating levels of stress most days. Other recent surveys from Canada and the U.S. also found between 20 to 30 per cent of parents are experiencing moderate to severe levels of anxiety that could warrant a clinical diagnosis. When the tasks of the holidays are piled onto this baseline stress, it’s easy to see how the “season of joy” may feel more like the “season of overwhelm.” How can both our society as a whole and parents as individuals dial back the pressure? Structural changes are essential. But scientific insights about child development can also help parents prioritize what matters most and shift how they respond to things that may otherwise trigger anxiety. Much of what is making parents stressed these days is structural in nature: things are more expensive, it’s hard to find affordable child care, parents are more isolated, work is taking up more of parents’ time and children’s engagement with ever-evolving technology brings a range of serious health and safety concerns . These factors disproportionately affect parents who experience poverty, racism, violence or trauma. Addressing them will require substantial political and cultural shifts . But there are smaller factors to tackle as well. Parents today have more access to information than ever before. It’s not just a pediatrician or family member they can turn to for advice, but endless blogs, forums and social media platforms. While online sources can build community and confidence, they can also contribute to information overload as panic headlines and contradictory advice often compound parents’ feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. These platforms also tend to showcase idyllic situations that lead parents to create unhelpful comparisons and unrealistic expectations, contributing to feelings of shame and guilt . To counteract these feelings, it’s helpful to remember a few things: children’s development is influenced by many things parents can’t control, there are many benefits to imperfect parenting and independent play and parent wellness matters more than most else. It’s common for people who haven’t experienced discrimination or unexpected challenges to attribute children’s behaviours and outcomes to parents’ choices and efforts. This is an example of “attribution bias,” a bias towards a particular kind of explanation . Developmental science helps dispel this bias by highlighting that children’s development is influenced by many factors other than parenting and beyond parents’ control. First among these is genetics. For example, twin studies have found that genetic factors explain 57-76 per cent of child/adolescent mental illness, 60-84 per cent of picky eating and 60-85 per cent of school achievement. Another is exposure to adverse or positive experiences , such as witnessing violence or being supported by friends and non-parental adults. These types of experiences have substantial effects on children’s physical and mental health. But they are inequitably distributed, based on factors such as income and race . There are big differences in children’s temperaments and how they respond to their environments . The same parenting strategy applied to two different children can lead to two very different outcomes, as you may have observed in siblings. This is why the next time you catch yourself feeling shame or judgment about a child’s behaviour, it’s important to remember parenting choices might not be to blame. Psychologists and pediatricians often recommend certain parenting strategies to support children’s development. But rarely do these providers suggest parents must follow their advice 100 per cent of the time to achieve the desired effects. It’s what happens most of the time that matters. Even when parenting “imperfections” happen, like breaking routines or uncharacteristically snapping at children, they can be seen as opportunities. When “rupture” is followed up by “repair” in the form of acknowledgement, apologies, explanations and/or moments for restoring connection, it can benefit the parent-child attachment relationship and help children build their emotion-regulation skills. By using repair after the overwhelming moments that often happen during the holidays, parents can transform these moments from sources of shame to reasons for pride. Over the past few decades, parents’ worries about children’s physical safety have grown , while children’s unsupervised play time has declined . Many parents are spending more time with their children , hovering or helicoptering over them rather than promoting independent play. No doubt, playing with the support of a responsive adult has many benefits for children’s learning and development . But when it comes to parent involvement in play, sometimes less is more. Research shows that unstructured play — play that isn’t organized by adults and doesn’t have defined goals — is a “ fundamental necessity ” for children’s well-being. Outdoor risky play has enormous benefits for children’s physical and mental health that outweigh many of the perceived safety risks. There are also many unique benefits of playing with peers for both academic and social skill development. With this in mind, if you are a parent who is regularly your child’s main playmate, it may be time to seek more opportunities to take a step back. The holidays can be a great time to start. News and social media feeds are full of panic headlines that can make it seem that certain foods, toys or parenting habits are what make or break children’s life outcomes. It’s easy for parents consuming this media to feel anxious or even want to change their purchases or behaviours in response to every new study. But most headlines overstate the findings of weak studies or small effects. And if following the headlines comes at the cost of parental well-being, it could be doing more harm than good. This is because one of the most consistent and strongest predictors of children’s well-being is having safe, stable and nurturing relationships with caregivers — as both the Canadian and American Pediatric Societies have stated. Children need present and responsive caregivers more than they need any specific foods, presents or new parenting fads. This is why it may be worth considering what you can do to support yourself or other parents’ well-being this year. This could mean providing practical or social support to the parents around you or just making them feel heard and understood . With high parental stress , it’s more important than ever for everyone to replace judgment with empathy and advice with real support. And for parents, let’s try to distinguish what we can and can’t control, practise self-forgiveness in tough times, allow ourselves moments to do less and focus in on what matters most. It might help us experience more moments of joy in this holiday season and through all the seasons of parenthood. Nina Sokolovic has worked in several roles at non-profit and government organizations that support the well-being of children and parents, including her current as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Ontario Public Service. She previously received funding for her research from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
BATON ROUGE, La., Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lamar Advertising Company LAMR , a leading owner and operator of outdoor advertising and logo sign displays, announces that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.40 per share and a special cash dividend of $0.25 per share, both payable on December 30, 2024 to stockholders of record of Lamar's Class A common stock and Class B common stock on December 18, 2024. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" concerning Lamar Advertising Company's goals, beliefs, expectations, strategies, objectives, plans, future operating results and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not necessarily based on historical facts. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those factors set forth in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as supplemented by any risk factors contained in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances. About Lamar Advertising Company Founded in 1902, Lamar Advertising Company is one of the largest outdoor advertising companies in North America, with over 360,000 displays across the United States and Canada. Lamar offers advertisers a variety of billboard, interstate logo, transit and airport advertising formats, helping both local businesses and national brands reach broad audiences every day. In addition to its more traditional out-of-home inventory, Lamar is proud to offer its customers the largest network of digital billboards in the United States with over 4,800 displays. Company Contact: Buster Kantrow Director of Investor Relations Lamar Advertising Company (225) 926-1000 bkantrow@lamar.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Former New York Yankees fielder Juan Soto stunned the baseball world this weekend by reportedly agreeing to a 15-year, $765 million contract with the club’s crosstown rivals, the New York Mets. The staggering contract is largest in U.S. pro baseball history, with one columnist warning that the Mets’ ability to ink such deals, thanks to funding from billionaire hedge fund investor and team owner Steve Cohen, might “break” the sport altogether . According to the deal’s fine print, the total sum could climb even higher than $765 million. The contract includes an opt-out provision after five seasons. But the Mets can void the clause after the 2029 season, providing they bump up the annual payout on the contract from $51 million to $55 million. That would bring the total value of the contract to $805 million, notes to MLB.com . Taken with Soto’s estimated $80.1 million in career earnings so far playing for the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, and Yankees since his 2018 debut, the new contract could one day help Soto become a baseball billionaire. Soto already appeared to be setting the stage for a financial windfall before the Mets deal was reported. As rivals sought to woo the 26-year-old free agent in November, he starred in an ad for Celsius energy drink, in which he announced he was joining their team, a spoof on big-league signing announcements. “Juan Soto smartly using his free agency to fuel an endorsement,” Sportico editor Scott Sochnick wrote in praise of the move. Sportico estimated that in 2024, Soto earned $3 million from his endorsements with Under Armor, Wilson, Sorare, New Era, and Topps. The bilingual Dominican slugger has a large following on social media, with approximately 1.75 million followers across Instagram, X and TikTok. Observers believe that Soto’s on-field performance will drive the kind of profits and fan enthusiam to justify the expense to the Mets. In six seasons, he’s already won a World Series with the Nats and led the Yankees to the American League pennant in 2024. “If they’re winning consistently” the Soto contract “can pay for itself,” Dennis Mannion, former president and CEO of the Dodgers, told The New York Post ahead of the Mets deal. Outside of his eye-popping contracts, Soto appears to have maintained more modest investments, at least by pro athlete standards. In 2023, he sold a $1.1 million home in Virginia, according to Realtor.com .Liam Payne's ex-girlfriend Sophie Smith announces engagement
Bristol's 21 lead Hampton past Loyola (MD) 76-68
