Cisco to Host 2024 Virtual Annual Meeting of StockholdersBravo’s announcement Tuesday (Nov. 26) that Vanderpump Rules is relaunching with a new cast of SURvers may not have been “Good as Gold” news for longtime viewers, but Scheana Shay — one of the hit show’s OG stars — has her focus on a passion project: her upcoming EP with The 27s. And believe it or not, pop superstar Taylor Swift had some part in the inspiration. “What I wanted to do with this EP was each song is kind of — and this is my Taylor Swift inspo — is a different era of Scheana,” the singer and TV personality, who attended the Eras Tour, tells Billboard . “So you have the ‘Apples’ Scandoval era, you have the ‘Boy Crazy’ era, ‘Sweet & Sour’ is like the mean girl, the early Vanderpump Rules era, and the next single I have is called ‘Miss Understood.’ So that is just a combination of 11 years on reality TV feeling like I’ve been a little misunderstood! But it’s a really good song. That one is a little more poppy, and then we have a couple more that are definitely more rock.” And like Swift, Shay — who has her own NFL ties via hosting some of Smirnoff’s We Do Game Day Matchups, with her next one being Dec. 5 in Detroit — will also be doing at least one other new take (Scheana’s Version, if you will) of her own tunes. “We’re doing a stripped-down version of ‘Apples.’ It’s just gonna be a more acoustic vibe, slower,” the Scheananigans podcast host shares of the bop that originally arrived in August 2023. The tune was inspired by co-star Tom Sandoval’s affair with their friend Rachel Leviss (dubbed “Scandoval” for its betrayal of fan-favorite castmate Ariana Madix, Sandoval’s partner of nearly 10 years and one of Leviss’ closest friends), which Shay performed during the VPR season 11 finale. “That’s the only one we’re really redoing. We already did the Screamo Version of ‘Good as Gold,’ but I’m really excited.” Though Shay wasn’t sure about the future of the hit Bravo reality show when she spoke to Billboard , she said at the time that she was in no major rush to get the EP out, hoping that this would give VPR the chance to document her artistic process, which the show has done in past seasons. “I would love for at least, if it’s not me in the recording booth, that when we do the release, that that’s captured in some way,” she says of her ideal scenario. “And if it’s not on Vanderpump Rules , it would be on my YouTube channel, and I’ll vlog everything that doesn’t get shown on the show.” The TV personality adds that she and The 27s have already mastered “a couple songs,” and that the new single would be out before the EP arrives. “It’s such a good song that I don’t want to release it without a visual aspect, so just figuring out if we’re gonna do a full music video for that ... but it will be coming soon, at least that single,” she shares. “And then I would love to have the EP out before the end of the year.” But if a new single and EP aren’t enough to fulfill fans’ appetites, Shay teased that there may be something else on the way for VPR devotees: a collab with co-stars Lala Kent and Ally Lewber. “Lala and I, we actually talked about doing a song with Ally!” reveals the podcaster, who shares daughter Summer Moon with husband Brock Davies. “It might be more of like a children’s song, but I recently recorded a song with Station Little, and they do a bunch of pop inspiring music for kids. ... We were thinking about it, and we’re like, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if the three of us did something together?’ Maybe around the holidays, which I know is approaching quickly, so we would need to figure that out soon, but we have talked about the three of us partnering with Station Little and doing something for the kids! I’m in my mom era!” Though pop music and parenting are in the influencer’s wheelhouse, she hopes to step outside the box with her music too. “I would love to collaborate with a legend like Dr. Dre, Eminem, where I’m just on the hook and they’re doing their thing they do. They’re so talented!” she gushed of the hip-hop icons. “Snoop Dogg, maybe Drake, but definitely more on the hip-hop side if I was going to do a collab. I feel like people would expect me to say, like, Britney Spears or something pop or Gwen Stefani. No! Put me in the studio with Dr. Dre and I would be a very happy girl!”President Joe Biden ’s administration wants Congress to maintain additional funding for the IRS to help it track down tax scofflaws and provide faster customer service, warning that letting the funding expire would add to the budget deficit. The Treasury Department’s jockeying comes as the rubber begins to hit the road on a potential year-end government spending deal — either a temporary one lasting a few months or a longer one through 2025. When members of Congress left Washington in September to hit the campaign trail, they agreed to extend the government’s funding past Sept. 30 to Dec. 20. But that deal, in a bill called a continuing resolution, mostly just kept funding for government agencies and programs at existing levels, with the idea that Congress and the White House could negotiate a broader agreement in December. That deadline is now closing in, with Congress set to return from the Thanksgiving holiday next week. The body will then start a three-week sprint to keep the government open and, in the case of the Democratic-held Senate, to confirm as many of Biden’s federal judge picks as it can before the new Congress meets in January. “In 2025, we’re going to hopefully have a robust debate about where the tax rates should be, but there should be no debate about whether people should pay the taxes that they owe,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told reporters Tuesday. Individual portions of the 2017 tax cuts enacted by a Republican Congress and Donald Trump in his first presidential term are set to expire in 2025. The GOP and the next Trump White House will be looking at extending them, and whether to do so without adding to the government’s $36 trillion-plus national debt. The stopgap funding bill approved in September did not address the extra IRS funding, which was approved in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. This means that unless the funding is approved as an exception to current levels — or an “anomaly” — in an upcoming funding bill, it will be unavailable to the IRS, Adeyemo said. “At some point, if they don’t get an anomaly, the [IRS] commissioner is going to have to make decisions about what he slows or stops in order to make sure they’re in a position where they don’t run out of money for enforcement,” the deputy secretary said, noting that this could add $140 billion to the federal deficit over a decade from lower revenue. House Republicans in particular have been critical of the Inflation Reduction Act , calling its clean energy tax subsidies wasteful and falsely saying the IRS would use its additional funding to hire 87,000 new auditors . Republicans may claim that reversing some of the IRA’s provisions in 2025 would offset the cost of extending the 2017 tax cuts. According to Treasury, a drop in enforcement would mean that audits of taxpayers making under $400,000 a year would rise as a proportion of all IRS audits. With the funding, the IRS could start at least 4,000 audits of high-income earners a year, while without it that number would fall by about 1,200 each year from 2025 to 2029. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. As other newsrooms bow to political pressure, HuffPost is not backing down. Would you help us keep our news free for all? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Along those same lines, Treasury said the IRS would not be able to conduct about 400 audits of large corporations annually without the IRA funding boost. It also said that average wait times for taxpayers calling the IRS could rise from three minutes in 2024 to 28 minutes in 2026. Maya MacGuineas, the president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, told reporters that boosting IRS enforcement was a “fiscal no-brainer.” “I’m the biggest ‘there is no such thing as a free lunch’ person when it comes to fiscal policy,” she said. “But the IRS funding does have a high return. It does pay for itself.” Related From Our PartnerA ceasefire deal that could end more than a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group won backing from Israeli leaders Tuesday, raising hopes and renewing difficult questions in a region gripped by conflict. Hezbollah leaders also signaled tentative backing for the U.S.-brokered deal, which offers both sides an off-ramp from hostilities that have driven more than 1.2 million Lebanese and 50,000 Israelis from their homes. An intense bombing campaign by Israel has killed more than 3,700 people, many of them civilians, Lebanese officials say. But while the deal, set to take effect early Wednesday, could significantly calm the tensions that have inflamed the region, it does little directly to resolve the much deadlier war that has raged in Gaza since the Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people. Hezbollah, which began firing scores of rockets into Israel the following day in support of Hamas, has previously said it would keep fighting until there was a stop to the fighting in Gaza. Here’s what to know about the tentative ceasefire agreement and its potential implications: The terms of the deal The agreement reportedly calls for a 60-day halt in fighting that would see Israeli troops retreat to their side of the border while requiring Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the deal is set to take effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday (9 p.m. EST Tuesday). Under the deal, thousands of Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers are to deploy to the region south of the Litani River. An international panel lead by the U.S. would monitor compliance by all sides. Biden said the deal “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz insisted Tuesday that the military would strike Hezbollah if the U.N. peacekeeping force, known as , does not provide “effective enforcement” of the deal. Lingering uncertainty A Hezbollah leader said the group’s support for the deal hinged on clarity that Israel would not renew its attacks. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Qatari satellite news network Al Jazeera. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said Tuesday that Israel’s security concerns had been addressed in the deal also brokered by France. Where the fighting has left both sides After months of cross-border bombings, Israel can claim major victories, including the killing of Hezbollah’s top leader, Hassan Nasrallah, most of his senior commanders and the destruction of extensive militant infrastructure. A complex attack in September involving the explosion of hundreds of walkie-talkies and pagers used by Hezbollah was widely attributed to Israel, signaling a remarkable penetration of the militant group. The damage inflicted on Hezbollah has come not only in its ranks, but to the reputation it built by fighting Israel to a stalemate in the 2006 war. Still, its fighters managed to put up heavy resistance on the ground, slowing Israel’s advance while continuing to fire scores of rockets, missiles and drones across the border each day. The ceasefire offers relief to both sides, giving Israel’s overstretched army a break and allowing Hezbollah leaders to tout the group’s effectiveness in holding their ground despite Israel’s massive advantage in weaponry. But the group is likely to face a reckoning, with many Lebanese accusing it of tying their country’s fate to Gaza’s at the service of key ally Iran, inflicting great damage on a Lebanese economy that was already in grave condition. No answers for Gaza Until now, Hezbollah has insisted that it would only halt its attacks on Israel when it agreed to stop fighting in Gaza. Some in the region are likely to view a deal between the Lebanon-based group and Israel as a capitulation. In Gaza, where officials say the war has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, Israel’s attacks have inflicted a heavy toll on Hamas, including the killing of the group’s top leaders. But Hamas fighters continue to hold scores of Israeli hostages, giving the militant group a bargaining chip if indirect ceasefire negotiations resume. Hamas is likely to continue to demand a lasting truce and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in any such deal. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas offered a pointed reminder Tuesday of the intractability of the war, demanding urgent international intervention. “The only way to halt the dangerous escalation we are witnessing in the region, and maintain regional and international stability, security and peace, is to resolve the question of Palestine,” he said in a speech to the U.N. read by his ambassador. Adam Geller, The Associated Press
MONTREAL — Second Cup Canada is cutting ties with a franchisee operating at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital who was allegedly filmed making hateful and antisemitic comments during a protest in the city last week. Second Cup Canada announced Saturday it was cutting ties with a franchisee for "making hateful remarks and gestures," and adding in a statement the actions breach the franchise agreement as well as inclusion and community values held by the chain. Peter Mammas, CEO of Montreal-based Foodtastic, which owns Second Cup Canada, said in an interview on Sunday that he was at the movies when his phone started pinging non-stop. He saw the videos and the company's operations staff spoke to employees that knew the woman, and they confirmed it was indeed the franchisee. Video shot during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of Concordia University's downtown Montreal campus Thursday shows a woman walking around, masked, saying the "final solution is coming your way" — wording used to describe a Nazi plan to eliminate Jews in Europe during the Second World War. Another video also shows what appears to be the same woman, unmasked, making a Nazi salute while walking away. "We're all for free speech and respectful conversations, but this wasn't that," Mammas said. "This was hate speech, and it was something that we thought could incite violence and we're completely against that, so we sat down with our team and decided to revoke the franchise agreement." Attempts to reach the franchisee were unsuccessful on Sunday. "Second Cup has zero tolerance for hate speech," the coffee chain said in a statement on X. "In co-ordination with the hospital, we've shut down the franchisee's café and are terminating their franchise agreement." Mammas said lawyers for the franchisee and Second Cup were expected to meet on Monday. The regional health agency serving West-Central Montreal, which includes the Jewish General Hospital, said it was made aware of the video "containing antisemitic and hateful messaging." The video is related to a franchisee of Second Cup, one of the private tenants operating within the (Jewish General), Carl Thériault, a spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday. "We fully support Second Cup's decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by shutting down the franchisee's cafés and terminating their lease agreement." The hospital has two locations operated by the same franchisee and both were shuttered on Saturday by the owners of the chain. The health agency "is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech," Thériault said. "We have franchisees who are Muslim, we have franchisees who are Jewish, we have franchisees that are Greek, French, we have employees from all different nations," Mammas said. "So we definitely have no issue with that and we don't take any political side, but ... hate speech ... you know we can't accept that." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 24, 2024. Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC raised its position in shares of Boise Cascade ( NYSE:BCC – Free Report ) by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 14,254 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 285 shares during the period. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC’s holdings in Boise Cascade were worth $2,010,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of BCC. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. raised its stake in Boise Cascade by 107.7% during the second quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 1,117,914 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $133,278,000 after purchasing an additional 579,759 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP raised its position in shares of Boise Cascade by 2,978.4% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 191,047 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $22,777,000 after buying an additional 184,841 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Boise Cascade by 293.4% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 236,980 shares of the construction company’s stock valued at $36,346,000 after acquiring an additional 176,738 shares during the last quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ grew its position in Boise Cascade by 46.0% in the second quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 383,000 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $45,661,000 after acquiring an additional 120,600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Boise Cascade by 56.8% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 89,163 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $12,570,000 after acquiring an additional 32,303 shares during the last quarter. 96.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Boise Cascade Price Performance Shares of BCC stock opened at $143.78 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.07 and a beta of 1.53. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $139.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $132.98. Boise Cascade has a one year low of $106.38 and a one year high of $154.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 3.13 and a quick ratio of 1.90. Boise Cascade Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 18th. Investors of record on Monday, December 2nd will be paid a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.58%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 2nd. Boise Cascade’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.22%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have recently commented on BCC shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Boise Cascade from $130.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Boise Cascade from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Boise Cascade from $154.00 to $161.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Loop Capital initiated coverage on shares of Boise Cascade in a research note on Friday, November 1st. They set a “buy” rating and a $155.00 price target for the company. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on Boise Cascade from $120.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a report on Thursday, September 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Boise Cascade currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $139.60. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Boise Cascade About Boise Cascade ( Free Report ) Boise Cascade Company engages in manufacture of wood products and distribution of building materials in the United States and Canada. It operates through two segments, Wood Products and Building Materials Distribution. The Wood Products segment manufactures laminated veneer lumber and laminated beams used in headers and beams; I-joists for residential and commercial flooring and roofing systems, and other structural applications; structural, appearance, and industrial plywood panels; and ponderosa pine shop lumber and appearance grade boards. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Boise Cascade Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boise Cascade and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Alec Baldwin was in Italy recently to do an intro for a special showing of his 1990 film, The Hunt for Red October . He took the opportunity to do what celebrities always do - share their ‘informed’ political opinions. Check it out. (WATCH) Alec Baldwin in Italy: After Trump's victory, "half the people in the country are very unhappy, it’s a very difficult time ... Americans are really uninformed about reality, what's really going on — w/ climate change, Ukraine, you name it ... Americans have an appetite for a... pic.twitter.com/YRy99owNq7 Baldwin, like most of his fellow Democrats, is upset about Kamala’s loss. He couldn’t even bring himself to say ‘Trump’ in his interview. Adult pretenders (aka actors) always think they’re more informed than the rest of us. "uninformed about reality" from a guy who makes his living by deception and lying. That’s a lot of words to say “we want to produce propaganda for the masses” pic.twitter.com/SDL1RuXVbf It should be noted he agreed to be the guest of honor at the Turin Film Festival ON THE CONDITION "Rust" not be mentioned at all. He's censoring his own appearances yet claims Americans are "uninformed about reality." I would venture to say that loads of Trump-voting Americans are much more informed than he thinks. Most of us don’t just live an echo chamber filled with pompus Elites that applaud themselves for reciting some words on a camera. Americans voted for Trump precisely because they were informed about the issues. It was information, not lack of it that made many cast their vote for him. Celebrities who jet all over the world lecturing average Americans about the dangers of Climate Change played a part. Ukraine is exactly WHY we voted for Trump Climate change is exactly WHY we voted for Trump Border security, the economy too. There is nothing more convincing than the media to prop up an actor, Alec Baldwin, as a Subject Matter Expert (SME).🤣🤣 I find it so amusing that anyone would think that he is the one to interview about the condition of the American people. Hollywood and reality are as far apart as anything can be. In what "climate friendly" way did he get to Italy? Baldwin is as informed about the climate as he is about firearm safety. You’ll recall Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in a shooting death on the set of his film Rust in 2021. The charges were dropped despite Baldwin holding the weapon and experts stating he discharged it. He's shot more people than Trump. "Americans are really uninformed about reality" This from the guy who tried to argue that the gun went off by itself. Shouldn't he be at his weekly gun safety class? pic.twitter.com/wp59WcxZRz Yes, celebrity opinions are garbage. Yet, ‘journalists’ and Democrats continue to seek their input and endorsements. Baldwin still faces roughly a dozen civil suits for the shooting.ROCK HILL, S.C., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 3D Systems Corporation DDD announced today its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. Third Quarter Highlights (All numbers are unaudited and are presented in millions, except per share amounts or as otherwise noted) Revenue of $112.9 million decreased 9% year-over-year primarily driven by macro weakness in printer sales, partially offset by approximately 10% growth in consumables sales Healthcare Solutions revenue of $55.1 million grew 5% year-over-year, led by strong growth in Dental and Personalized Healthcare solutions Customer interest in 3D printing applications continued to gain momentum, with revenues in the Application Innovation Group (AIG) growing over 26% year-to-date versus prior year across industrial markets Q3'24 gross profit margin of 36.9% and Non-GAAP gross profit margin (1) of 37.6% included a $3 million headwind related to an increase in inventory reserves - if excluded, Non-GAAP gross profit margin was 40.2% Q3'24 net loss of $178.6 million, diluted loss per share of $1.35, which includes $143.7 million associated with the impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets. Non-GAAP diluted loss per share (1) of $0.12 Q3'24 negative Adjusted EBITDA (1) of $14.3 million Updating guidance for remainder of FY'2024 to now include expected full-year revenues within the range of $440 million - $450 million Unaudited Three Months Ended September 30, Three Months Ended September 30, (in millions, except per share data) 2024 2023 Revenue $ 112.9 $ 123.8 Gross profit 41.7 55.4 Gross profit margin 36.9 % 44.7 % Operating expense 222.5 68.9 Loss from operations (180.8 ) (13.6 ) Net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation (178.6 ) (11.7 ) Diluted loss per share (1.35 ) (0.09 ) Non-GAAP measures for year-over-year comparisons: (1) Non-GAAP gross profit margin 37.6 % 44.8 % Non-GAAP operating expense 61.4 55.8 Adjusted EBITDA (14.3 ) 4.7 Non-GAAP diluted (loss) income per share $ (0.12 ) $ 0.01 (1) See "Presentation of Information in this Press Release" below for a description, and the Appendix for reconciliations of non-GAAP measurements to the most closely comparable GAAP measures. Summary Comments on Results Commenting on third quarter results, Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO of 3D Systems said, "As recently shared, our third quarter revenues continued to be impacted by sluggish capital investments by our customers for new production capacity, particularly in the Industrial markets, impacting the sale of new printing systems. On a positive note however, capacity utilization for our installed printer fleet broadly increased, translating into an increase in consumable revenues, which grew nearly 10% on both prior year and sequential comparisons. While 2024 has been a challenging year for new printer system sales, we are increasingly encouraged about the future, driven in large part by customer demand for our Application Innovation Group, a group of highly skilled process specialists who assist customers in developing new applications for 3D printing. Year-to-date this group, which spans both polymer and metal solutions, has experienced a rise of over 26% in revenues derived from new application development, particularly in highly regulated markets such a semiconductor equipment manufacturing, oil & gas, aerospace & defense markets, and our medical markets. Much of this performance, and the future growth potential it implies, has been fueled by an aggressive cycle of innovation at our company, enabled by our sustained focus on new product innovation across all of our major polymer and metal printing solutions. As a result of this sustained focus, which we believe differentiates us from many others in our industry, we are on pace to deliver nearly 40 new products to market since the third quarter of last year, and 25 in calendar 2024 alone. We believe no other company in our industry has matched this output that we expect will pay dividends in growth and profitability improvements as the economy rebounds in the future." Dr. Graves continued, "Given our strong focus on new product innovation, over the last two years we've also completely altered our manufacturing model from nearly 100% outsourced, to taking full responsibility for our integrated supply chain by in-sourcing procurement, assembly operations and logistics. This transition is now virtually complete, and, while it required short-term increases in expenses and working capital, we believe it is absolutely essential in driving smooth new product introductions, high quality product and delivery performance and, importantly, long-term customer satisfaction and gross margin improvements as factory efficiencies increase. While weakness in our end-markets over the last several quarters has muted these benefits, as volumes recover we expect to realize them increasingly over time. With our in-sourcing efforts now close to completion, our near term focus has shifted to managing working capital and capex spend to improve cash performance. This has been increasingly effective as we entered the second half of the year, as demonstrated by the stabilization of our cash reserves in the third quarter. We were also pleased to deliver a sequential reduction in operating expenses, in line with our previous expectations, and expect the benefits of restructuring actions previously taken to positively impact our cost structure in the quarters ahead." Dr. Graves concluded, "As we look to the end of the year, the consistent fueling of our R&D engines as we moved through a tougher macro environment period is now driving an acceleration of exciting new customer applications, supported by outstanding new products spanning from new printer hardware to advanced engineering materials, to enhancement of our software capabilities. We believe this positions us well as the geopolitical and economic headwinds of the last 18 months ultimately begin to recede. Given timing uncertainties and normal quarter-to-quarter inventory management at year-end, we believe it is prudent to be conservative in our outlook for the full year. As such, we are updating our revenue expectations for the full year 2024 to be between $440 million and $450 million. From an OPEX perspective, we expect to see continued improvement consistent with our prior comments, namely that OPEX will decrease again in Q4, to below $60 million. These combined factors should yield a sequential improvement in Adjusted EBITDA and will place us on a trajectory towards profitability in the quarters ahead. We will continue our balanced view of short-term focus on cash performance and improving profitability, while meeting the longer-term needs of our customers from a technology and service perspective. In keeping our customers' production goals clearly in our sites each day, we believe that substantial long-term value will be created for all of our stakeholders in the years ahead." Summary of Third Quarter Results Revenue for the third quarter of 2024 decreased approximately 9% to $112.9 million compared to the same period last year, primarily driven by lower printer sales, partially offset by approximately 10% growth in materials. Gross profit margin for the third quarter of 2024 was 36.9% compared to 44.7% for the same period last year. Non-GAAP gross profit margin was 37.6% compared to 44.8% for the same period last year. Gross profit margin decreased primarily due to unfavorable absorption associated with lower volumes and approximately $3 million associated with an increase in inventory reserves, partially offset by favorable mix. In addition, gross profit margin from the prior year period includes approximately $4.5 million of incremental revenue recognized by our Regenerative Medicine business at 100% margin related to incremental milestone recognition which did not repeat in the third quarter of 2024. Operating expense for the third quarter of 2024 was $222.5 million compared to $68.9 million for the same period last year and includes $143.7 million associated with the impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets taken during the third quarter of 2024. Non-GAAP operating expense of $61.4 million increased $5.6 million compared to the same period last year, while improving $2.7 million on a sequential basis. The sequential improvement was primarily driven by benefits associated with prior restructuring actions. Net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation for the third quarter of 2024 was $178.6 million compared to a net loss of $11.7 million for the same period last year. The decline from prior year was primarily impacted by the previously referenced $143.7 million associated with the impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets taken during the third quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $19.1 million to a loss of $14.3 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA primarily reflects lower revenue, lower gross margin and higher operating expense. As previously noted, the third quarter of 2023 also included the benefit of approximately $4.5 million of incremental milestone recognition by our Regenerative Medicine business at 100% margin that did not repeat in the third quarter of 2024. Updating 2024 Outlook Based on current macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions, 3D Systems is updating its financial guidance for the remainder of 2024 as follows: Revenues for the full-year 2024 within the range of $440 million - $450 million Non-GAAP gross profit margin for the full-year 2024 within the range of 38% - 40% Maintain the expectation for Non-GAAP operating expense of less than $60 million for Q4'24 Adjusted EBITDA to improve sequentially Financial Liquidity At September 30, 2024, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $190.0 million, a decrease of $141.5 million since December 31, 2023. The decrease resulted primarily due to cash used in operations of $37.1 million, capital expenditures of $10.8 million, and repayment on borrowings of $87.2 million. At September 30, 2024, the company had total debt, net of deferred financing costs of $211.7 million. Q3 2024 Conference Call and Webcast The company will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss these results on November 27, 2024, which may be accessed as follows: Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time Listen via webcast: www.3dsystems.com/investor Participate via telephone: 201-689-8345 A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the live presentation at www.3dsystems.com/investor . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations and may include comments as to the company's beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law. Presentation of Information in this Press Release 3D Systems reports its financial results in accordance with GAAP. Management also reviews and reports certain non-GAAP measures, including: non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross profit margin, non-GAAP operating expense, non-GAAP diluted income (loss) per share, and Adjusted EBITDA. These non-GAAP measures exclude certain items that management does not view as part of 3D Systems' core results as they may be highly variable, may be unusual or infrequent, are difficult to predict and can distort underlying business trends and results. Management believes that the non-GAAP measures provide useful additional insight into underlying business trends and results and provide meaningful information regarding the comparison of period-over-period results. Additionally, management uses the non-GAAP measures for planning, forecasting and evaluating business and financial performance, including allocating resources and evaluating results relative to employee compensation targets. 3D Systems' non-GAAP measures are not calculated in accordance with or as required by GAAP and may not be calculated in the same manner as similarly titled measures used by other companies. These non-GAAP measures should thus be considered as supplemental in nature and not considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. To calculate the non-GAAP measures, 3D Systems excludes the impact of the following items: amortization of intangible assets, a non-cash expense, as 3D Systems' intangible assets were primarily acquired in connection with business combinations; costs incurred in connection with acquisitions and divestitures, such as legal, consulting and advisory fees; stock-based compensation expenses, a non-cash expense; charges related to restructuring and cost optimization plans, impairment charges, including goodwill, and divestiture gains or losses; impact of equity method investments; certain compensation expense related to the 2021 Volumetric acquisition; and costs, including legal fees, related to significant or unusual litigation matters. Amortization of intangibles and acquisition and divestiture-related costs are excluded from non-GAAP measures as the timing and magnitude of business combination transactions are not predictable, can vary significantly from period to period and the purchase price allocated to amortizable intangible assets and the related amortization period are unique to each acquisition. Amortization of intangible assets will recur in future periods until such intangible assets have been fully amortized. While intangible assets contribute to the company's revenue generation, the amortization of intangible assets does not directly relate to the sale of the company's products or services. Additionally, intangible assets amortization expense typically fluctuates based on the size and timing of the company's acquisition activity. Accordingly, the company believes excluding the amortization of intangible assets enhances the company's and investors' ability to compare the company's past financial performance with its current performance and to analyze underlying business performance and trends. Although stock-based compensation is a key incentive offered to certain of our employees, the expense is non-cash in nature, and we continue to evaluate our business performance excluding stock-based compensation; therefore, it is excluded from non-GAAP measures. Stock-based compensation expenses will recur in future periods. Charges related to restructuring and cost optimization plans, impairment charges, including goodwill, divestiture gains or losses, and the costs, including legal fees, related to significant or unusual litigation matters are excluded from non-GAAP measures as the frequency and magnitude of these activities may vary widely from period to period. Additionally, impairment charges, including goodwill, are non-cash. Furthermore, the company believes the costs, including legal fees, related to significant or unusual litigation matters are not indicative of our core business' operations. Finally, 3D Systems excludes contingent consideration recorded as compensation expense related to the 2021 Volumetric acquisition from non-GAAP measures as management evaluates financial performance excluding this expense, which is viewed by management as similar to acquisition consideration. The matters discussed above are tax effected, as applicable, in calculating non-GAAP diluted income (loss) per share. Adjusted EBITDA, defined as net income, plus income tax (provision) benefit, interest and other income (expense), net, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, depreciation expense, and other non-GAAP adjustments, all as described above, is used by management to evaluate performance and helps measure financial performance period-over-period. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures is provided in the accompanying schedules. 3D Systems does not provide forward-looking guidance for certain measures on a GAAP basis. The company is unable to provide a quantitative reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP gross profit margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and non-GAAP operating expense to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures without unreasonable effort because certain items, including litigation costs, acquisition expenses, stock-based compensation expense, intangible assets amortization expense, restructuring expenses, and goodwill impairment charges are difficult to predict and estimate. These items are inherently uncertain and depend on various factors, many of which are beyond the company's control, and as such, any associated estimate and its impact on GAAP performance could vary materially. About 3D Systems More than 35 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading additive manufacturing solutions partner, we bring innovation, performance, and reliability to every interaction - empowering our customers to create products and business models never before possible. Thanks to our unique offering of hardware, software, materials and services, each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise of our application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform how they deliver their products and services. 3D Systems' solutions address a variety of advanced applications in Healthcare and Industrial Solutions markets such as medical and dental, aerospace & defense, automotive and durable goods. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com . Tables Follow 3D Systems Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands, except par value) September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 190,005 $ 331,525 Accounts receivable, net of reserves — $2,137 and $3,389 99,224 101,497 Inventories 134,926 152,188 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 35,858 42,612 Total current assets 460,013 627,822 Property and equipment, net 53,907 64,461 Intangible assets, net 20,961 62,724 Goodwill 14,967 116,082 Operating lease right-of-use assets 49,384 58,406 Finance lease right-of-use assets 9,185 12,174 Long-term deferred income tax assets 4,041 4,230 Other assets 45,818 44,761 Total assets $ 658,276 $ 990,660 LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST AND EQUITY Current liabilities: Current operating lease liabilities $ 9,628 $ 9,924 Accounts payable 42,414 49,757 Accrued and other liabilities 44,882 49,460 Customer deposits 8,655 7,599 Deferred revenue 33,336 30,448 Total current liabilities 138,915 147,188 Long-term debt, net of deferred financing costs 211,682 319,356 Long-term operating lease liabilities 51,000 56,795 Long-term deferred income tax liabilities 5,214 5,162 Other liabilities 31,340 33,400 Total liabilities 438,151 561,901 Commitments and contingencies Redeemable non-controlling interest 2,093 2,006 Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.001 par value, authorized 220,000 shares; shares issued 134,826 and 133,619 as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively 135 134 Additional paid-in capital 1,588,911 1,577,519 Accumulated deficit (1,328,536 ) (1,106,650 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (42,478 ) (44,250 ) Total stockholders' equity 218,032 426,753 Total liabilities, redeemable non-controlling interest and stockholders' equity $ 658,276 $ 990,660 3D Systems Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended (in thousands, except per share amounts) September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Revenue: Products $ 72,968 $ 80,415 $ 208,752 $ 253,968 Services 39,972 43,376 120,345 119,253 Total revenue 112,940 123,791 329,097 373,221 Cost of sales: Products 47,533 47,427 129,571 153,442 Services 23,694 21,014 69,793 67,315 Total cost of sales 71,227 68,441 199,364 220,757 Gross profit 41,713 55,350 129,733 152,464 Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative 57,974 33,355 166,772 150,623 Research and development 20,764 21,982 66,260 66,953 Asset impairment charges 143,733 13,597 143,733 13,597 Total operating expenses 222,471 68,934 376,765 231,173 Loss from operations (180,758 ) (13,584 ) (247,032 ) (78,709 ) Non-operating income (expense): Foreign exchange loss, net (1,960 ) (2,202 ) (774 ) (3,847 ) Interest income 1,550 5,841 5,800 15,730 Interest expense (606 ) (932 ) (1,944 ) (2,612 ) Other (loss) income, net (51 ) (105 ) 21,719 420 Total non-operating (loss) income (1,067 ) 2,602 24,801 9,691 Loss before income taxes (181,825 ) (10,982 ) (222,231 ) (69,018 ) Benefit (provision) for income taxes 4,343 (174 ) 2,496 (404 ) Loss on equity method investment, net of income taxes (1,254 ) (605 ) (2,403 ) (747 ) Net loss before redeemable non-controlling interest (178,736 ) (11,761 ) (222,138 ) (70,169 ) Less: net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest (109 ) (57 ) (252 ) (149 ) Net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation $ (178,627 ) $ (11,704 ) $ (221,886 ) $ (70,020 ) Net loss per common share: Basic $ (1.35 ) $ (0.09 ) $ (1.69 ) $ (0.54 ) Diluted $ (1.35 ) $ (0.09 ) $ (1.69 ) $ (0.54 ) Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 132,235 130,263 131,621 129,780 Diluted 132,235 130,263 131,621 129,780 3D Systems Corporation Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 Nine Months Ended (in thousands) September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss before redeemable non-controlling interest $ (222,138 ) $ (70,169 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation, amortization and accretion of debt discount 28,837 27,054 Stock-based compensation 17,339 15,140 Loss on short-term investments — 6 Non-cash operating lease expense 7,370 6,552 Provision for inventory obsolescence 10,332 6,061 Provision for bad debts 148 197 Loss on the disposition of businesses, property, equipment and other assets 1,649 51 Gain on debt extinguishment (21,518 ) — Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes and reserve adjustments 451 141 Loss on equity method investment, net of taxes 2,403 747 Asset impairment charges 143,733 14,856 Changes in operating accounts: Accounts receivable 2,594 (11,706 ) Inventories 5,972 (23,106 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 6,831 (2,790 ) Accounts payable (7,201 ) (7,717 ) Deferred revenue and customer deposits 4,533 1,351 Accrued and other liabilities (9,843 ) (16,066 ) All other operating activities (8,601 ) (12,495 ) Net cash used in operating activities (37,109 ) (71,893 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment (10,798 ) (20,995 ) Sales and maturities of short-term investments — 180,925 Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses, net of cash sold 96 — Acquisitions and other investments, net of cash acquired (2,450 ) (29,241 ) Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (13,152 ) 130,689 Cash flows from financing activities: Repayment of borrowings/long-term debt (87,218 ) — Taxes paid related to net-share settlement of equity awards (2,526 ) (4,752 ) Other financing activities (1,003 ) (463 ) Net cash used in financing activities (90,747 ) (5,215 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (530 ) 1,561 Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (141,538 ) 55,142 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year (a) 333,111 391,975 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period (a) $ 191,573 $ 447,117 (a) The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the total of such amounts reported in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. (in thousands) September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023 September 30, 2023 December 31, 2022 Cash and cash equivalents $ 190,005 $ 331,525 $ 445,554 $ 388,134 Restricted cash included in prepaid expenses and other current assets 122 119 118 114 Restricted cash included in other assets 1,446 1,467 1,445 3,727 Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows $ 191,573 $ 333,111 $ 447,117 $ 391,975 Amounts included in restricted cash as of September 30, 2024, December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023 primarily relate to guarantees in the form of a standby letter of credit as security for a long-term real estate lease. Amounts included in restricted cash as of December 31, 2022 primarily relate to $3,435 deposited into an escrow account relating to the initial investment in the National Additive Manufacturing innovation ("NAMI") joint venture. The remaining amounts in restricted cash in all periods presented relate to collateral for letters of credit and bank guarantees. Appendix 3D Systems Corporation Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 , 2023 Gross Profit and Gross Profit Margin (1) Three Months Ended September 30, (in millions) 2024 2023 Gross Profit Gross Profit Margin Gross Profit Gross Profit Margin GAAP $ 41.7 36.9 % $ 55.4 44.7 % Amortization expense included in Cost of sales 0.3 0.1 Severance accrual adjustment 0.5 — Non-GAAP (2) $ 42.5 37.6 % $ 55.5 44.8 % (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding (2) Calculated as non-GAAP gross profit as a percentage of total revenue Nine Months Ended September 30, (in millions) 2024 2023 Gross Profit Gross Profit Margin Gross Profit Gross Profit Margin GAAP $ 129.7 39.4 % $ 152.5 40.9 % Amortization expense included in Cost of sales 0.8 0.1 Severance accrual adjustment (0.5 ) — Non-GAAP (2) $ 130.0 39.5 % $ 152.6 40.9 % (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding (2) Calculated as non-GAAP gross profit as a percentage of total revenue Non-GAAP Operating Expense (1) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, (in millions) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Operating expense $ 222.5 $ 68.9 $ 376.8 $ 231.2 Amortization expense (8.1 ) (3.1 ) (12.4 ) (9.6 ) Stock-based compensation expense (5.8 ) 3.1 (17.4 ) (15.1 ) Acquisition and divestiture-related expense (0.6 ) 4.1 (0.8 ) (0.1 ) Legal and other expense (2.6 ) (2.1 ) (9.2 ) (4.9 ) Restructuring expense (0.2 ) (1.5 ) (1.4 ) (6.7 ) Asset impairment charges (143.7 ) (13.6 ) (143.7 ) (14.2 ) Non-GAAP operating expense $ 61.4 $ 55.8 $ 191.9 $ 180.6 (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding Appendix 3D Systems Corporation Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 , 2023 Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA (1) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, (in millions) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation $ (178.6 ) $ (11.7 ) $ (221.9 ) $ (70.0 ) Interest (income) expense, net (0.9 ) (4.9 ) (3.9 ) (13.1 ) Provision for income taxes (4.3 ) 0.2 (2.5 ) 0.4 Depreciation expense 4.6 5.1 14.5 15.7 Amortization expense 8.4 3.2 13.3 9.7 EBITDA (170.9 ) (8.2 ) (200.5 ) (57.4 ) Stock-based compensation expense 5.8 (3.1 ) 17.4 15.1 Acquisition and divestiture-related expense 0.6 (4.1 ) 0.8 0.1 Legal and other related costs 2.6 2.1 9.2 4.9 Restructuring expense 0.7 1.5 0.8 6.7 Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest (0.1 ) (0.1 ) (0.3 ) (0.1 ) Loss on equity method investments, net of tax 1.3 0.6 2.4 0.7 Gain on repurchase of debt — — (21.5 ) — Asset impairment charges 143.7 13.6 143.7 14.2 Other non-operating expense (income) 2.0 2.3 0.6 3.4 Adjusted EBITDA $ (14.3 ) $ 4.7 $ (47.3 ) $ (12.3 ) (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding Appendix 3D Systems Corporation Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 , 2023 Diluted Loss per Share (1) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, (in dollars) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Diluted loss per share $ (1.35 ) $ (0.09 ) $ (1.69 ) $ (0.54 ) Stock-based compensation expense 0.04 (0.02 ) 0.13 0.12 Amortization expense 0.06 0.02 0.10 0.07 Acquisition and divestiture-related expense — (0.03 ) 0.01 — Legal expense 0.02 0.02 0.07 0.04 Asset impairment charges 1.09 0.10 1.09 0.11 Restructuring expense 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.05 Gain on repurchase of debt — — (0.16 ) — Loss on equity method investment and other 0.01 — 0.02 0.01 Non-GAAP diluted loss per share $ (0.12 ) $ 0.01 $ (0.42 ) $ (0.15 ) (1) Amounts in table may not foot due to rounding © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Carbon Streaming Announces Board and CEO Changes
Second Cup dumps Jewish General Hospital franchisee over video with 'hateful remarks'FINE GAEL AND Sinn Féin are tied in a new pre-election poll, with Fianna Fáil enjoying a slight edge over the other two parties. The Business Post has released new polling figures this evening, conducted by Red C, that show Sinn Féin and Fine Gael each receiving 20% of first preference votes. It marks a rise of two percentage points for Sinn Féin but a fall of two points for Fine Gael compared to previous polling. Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil sits just ahead of the other two on 21%, according to the Business Post’s poll, which was conducted by 20 and 26 November. Independents are on track to receive 14% of first preference votes, the Social Democrats are on 6%, and the Labour Party are on 4% in the new poll. The Green Party, Aontú and Independent Ireland are tied on 4% and People Before Profit is on 2%. The Business Post poll also asked respondents which party they would give their second preference vote. Fianna Fáil is expected to receive the highest level of second preference votes (21%) followed by Fine Gael (17%) and Sinn Féin (13%). Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin all have their eyes set on trying to lead the next government but close polling figures could be indicative of complicated coalition talks to come. Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in the final leaders’ debate of the election last night.President-elect Donald Trump is stacking the Department of Health and Human Services with people who are poised to favor the health fantasies of the rich. It started with the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. —an environmental lawyer with a history of promoting anti-vaccination conspiracy theories —to head the department. Then, Trump tapped Janette Nesheiwat, a Fox News contributor who peddles vitamins , for surgeon general; Marty Makary, who opposed vaccine mandates and supported natural immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic, for Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) commissioner; and Dave Weldon, who has championed the idea that vaccine preservatives contribute to the rise of autism (they do not), for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These picks do not inspire confidence. Under Kennedy's leadership, we will see a push for more individual empowerment—the kind only afforded to those with economic means. Trump said he would let Kennedy "go wild on health." This is alarming because Kennedy's beliefs on health are... wild . Kennedy has expressed interest in revisiting vaccine recommendations , removing fluoride from water, rolling back research on infectious diseases , and overhauling the FDA . Between his support for vaccine choice and relaxing access to substances with questionable benefits, it is clear that he leans in favor of increasing individual health decisions. After some of these measures have been undone, individuals will have to be more vigilant and assume greater risks when navigating their health care. While this sort of individualism in the realm of public health is most harmful to low- and middle-class people, those least able to exercise choice, it is ultimately bad for everyone. Kennedy's vision for "Making America Healthy Again" hopes to increase individual choice, which effectively translates to individual responsibility. However, one's ability to take responsibility is constrained by economic resources. Socioeconomic status is inversely correlated with morbidity and mortality. Unsurprisingly, money and education are protective. Those with more money and education have more opportunities to reduce risk of disease and maintain good health. Kennedy's plans to ramp up food regulation (motivated in part by ideology and pseudoscience ), for instance, will likely increase the cost of groceries and make it harder for Americans to buy food. Even among those with the means, health individualism is burdensome and does not guarantee better health. I am a medical sociologist who spent three years studying people who have long aligned with Kennedy , sharing many of his beliefs—they are parents of autistic children and allies who are convinced that vaccines and other environmental "triggers" contribute to autism. The debunked vaccine-autism link appeals to them because it suggests that autistic children can "recover" with the right combination of food, supplements, and experimental therapies. Here, parents find hope in the darkness of vaccine fear and confidence in their consumer power. Although the parents I studied are better resourced than most other Americans, they take on enormous risks and debt when they experiment with products that are not FDA approved. Parents spend countless hours doing their own "research" on efficacy and thousands of dollars on substances and devices that are not evidence-based (one mother sold her house and accrued $125,000 in credit card debt). Parents' desire for less government regulation and oversight ironically stems from a lack of universal health care and adequate social safety nets to protect the most vulnerable Americans. It is in this context that they make risky health decisions in hopes that their disabled children could become more "typical" and better able to survive a neoliberal world. What we need as a country are population-level efforts to improve everyone's well-being. When it comes to improving public health, we cannot keep privileging personal preference. Individual health is inseparable from population health. As we all had to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic, no individual, no matter how rich, can fully insulate themselves from the world around them. The U.S. failed to control the virus because we prioritized individualism at a time when our survival depended on collective action. Some resisted mandates to shelter in place and mask in public, placing their preferences over the safety of others. Then, when vaccines finally became available, skepticism and misinformation slowed efforts toward reducing transmission. Rich or poor, everyone was affected by the U.S.'s devastatingly inadequate response to COVID . Now, with mounting concerns about the transmission of avian flu , we might be tested again. As sociologist Andrew Szasz argued, insulating ourselves does not actually work and the delusion that it could will lead to complacency. Kennedy's promotion of consumer choice may sound appealing—especially to those who believe they have choice—but it will ultimately endanger everyone. From what we already know about his beliefs and stated plans, Kennedy is not suited to lead the health department. Catherine Tan is an Assistant Professor in Sociology at Vassar College. She is the author of Spaces on the Spectrum: How Autism Movements Resist Experts and Create Knowledge , published by Columbia University Press (January 2024). The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
White House pressing Ukraine to draft 18-year-olds so they have enough troops to battle Russia
Blake Snell reportedly has joined his former team's biggest rival. After opting out of his Giants contract and entering MLB free agency this offseason, Snell has agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers pending a physical, ESPN's Jeff Passan and Jorge Castillo reported Tuesday, citing sources. Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Left-hander Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a five-year, $182 million contract, pending physical, sources tell me and @jorgecastillo . The World Series champions get the two-time Cy Young winner in the first nine-figure deal of the winter. Snell seemingly confirmed the news with a post on his Instagram account. A post shared by Blake Snell (@snellzilla4) It's no surprise Los Angeles landed the two-time Cy Young Award winner. The Dodgers have shattered free-agency expectations in recent offseasons, inflating their payroll and even deferring millions of dollars to future years so they can sign stars including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman -- the list goes on. It paid off for San Francisco's NL West rivals in 2024, as Los Angeles won its eighth World Series title last month when it defeated the New York Yankees in five games. And the Dodgers appear to be taking the deferred money route with Snell, as they did when they signed Ohtani last winter. Dodgers’ deal with Blake Snell includes some deferred money, source tells The Athletic. https://t.co/ZO6X9C4b1k Snell's lone Giants campaign started off rocky after the ace endured an offseason without spring training while searching for a home in free agency. But after a rough first half to the 2024 MLB season, Snell quickly rounded into Cy Young form, even pitching a no-hitter for San Francisco on Aug. 2 against the Cincinnati Reds. His hot second half led Snell to opt out of the remaining year on his Giants contract, making him the best available pitcher on the open market. This time, negotiations with MLB teams didn't last as long. Because the Dodgers, as usual, swooped in. Download and follow the Giants Talk PodcastCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Planet Earth is parting company with an asteroid that’s been tagging along as a “mini moon” for the past two months. The harmless space rock will peel away on Monday, overcome by the stronger tug of the sun’s gravity . But it will zip closer for a quick visit in January. NASA will use a radar antenna to observe the 33-foot (10-meter) asteroid then. That should deepen scientists’ understanding of the object known as 2024 PT5, quite possibly a boulder that was blasted off the moon by an impacting, crater-forming asteroid. While not technically a moon — NASA stresses it was never captured by Earth’s gravity and fully in orbit — it’s “an interesting object” worthy of study. The astrophysicist brothers who identified the asteroid’s “mini moon behavior,” Raul and Carlos de la Fuente Marcos of Complutense University of Madrid, have collaborated with telescopes in the Canary Islands for hundreds of observations so far. Currently more than 2 million miles (3.5 million kilometers) away, the object is too small and faint to see without a powerful telescope. It will pass as close as 1.1 million miles (1.8 million kilometers) of Earth in January, maintaining a safe distance before it zooms farther into the solar system while orbiting the sun, not to return until 2055. That’s almost five times farther than the moon. First spotted in August, the asteroid began its semi jog around Earth in late September, after coming under the grips of Earth’s gravity and following a horseshoe-shaped path. By the time it returns next year, it will be moving too fast — more than double its speed from September — to hang around, said Raul de la Fuente Marcos. NASA will track the asteroid for more than a week in January using the Goldstone solar system radar antenna in California’s Mojave Desert, part of the Deep Space Network. Current data suggest that during its 2055 visit, the sun-circling asteroid will once again make a temporary and partial lap around Earth. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Ben Davies is the latest to fall into that category, with the Welsh international initially primed to return for Sunday’s visit of Wolves but no longer available. Davies suffered a setback in training this week, which means Spurs could be without a fit centre-back after Radu Dragusin was forced off in the latter stages of Thursday’s 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest with an ankle issue. Postecoglou is already without first-choice central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven after both failed to make it through their comeback fixture against Chelsea on December 7. “Yeah, that’s been our major problem this year. Guys who are coming back from injury rather than us losing players as such,” Postecoglou said. “We’re looking at those things and why they’re happening. It’s certainly happened too often this year where guys have come back and they’re the ones who are missing. “I think just about all of them, apart from Vic (Guglielmo Vicario), are recurrences of an injury. “Even with Romero, it was a different injury but it’s still a guy coming back, so it’s something we’re looking at.” There could be good news on the horizon with attackers Mikey Moore and Richarlison expected to return to training next week. Richarlison suffered his own setback in November when his short-lived return after a calf issue was cut short when he injured the same area against Aston Villa. Moore, meanwhile, has been sidelined by a virus for the best part of two months but the 17-year-old could provide a much-needed spark in the new year when Newcastle visit on January 4. Postecoglou said: “Him and Richy are in the final phases. Next week they can start training. We’ve got a bit of a gap before the Newcastle game. “The plan is Mikey and Richy come back into first-team training next week.” Anticipated returns for Moore and Richarlison will fail to help Postecoglou against Wolves, with makeshift centre-back Archie Gray potentially set to partner up with fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma if Dragusin cannot recover. Pressed on the issue of fixture scheduling, with Spurs definitely missing eight players for Sunday’s fixture, Postecoglou said: “It is challenging. “All clubs are going to have to get their heads around it and authorities are going to have to get their heads around it. “One of two things need to happen: either you somehow change the fixture schedule, which doesn’t seem feasible, or you allow clubs bigger squads. Then you have other issues with that, as well. “The attrition rate you’re seeing and it’s not just us. We’re going through a particularly badly moment. Newcastle went through it last year and it affected them pretty badly. They were obviously in the Champions League as well and probably didn’t have the squad to cope with it. “It hits certain clubs at different times and is probably becoming more prevalent, and for all of us it’s a challenge as to how we navigate this process to keep our players healthy. “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing. For us it’s been constant since August and we’re not even halfway through the year. And they’re not going to get a break now, so these things we’re constantly assessing.”
Ange Postecoglou searching for answers over Tottenham’s injury crisisBen Davies is the latest to fall into that category, with the Welsh international initially primed to return for Sunday’s visit of Wolves but no longer available. Davies suffered a setback in training this week, which means Spurs could be without a fit centre-back after Radu Dragusin was forced off in the latter stages of Thursday’s 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest with an ankle issue. Ange with a team news update ahead of Wolves on Sunday 🗣️ — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) Postecoglou is already without first-choice central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven after both failed to make it through their comeback fixture against Chelsea on December 7. “Yeah, that’s been our major problem this year. Guys who are coming back from injury rather than us losing players as such,” Postecoglou said. “We’re looking at those things and why they’re happening. It’s certainly happened too often this year where guys have come back and they’re the ones who are missing. “I think just about all of them, apart from Vic (Guglielmo Vicario), are recurrences of an injury. “Even with Romero, it was a different injury but it’s still a guy coming back, so it’s something we’re looking at.” There could be good news on the horizon with attackers Mikey Moore and Richarlison expected to return to training next week. Richarlison suffered his own setback in November when his short-lived return after a calf issue was cut short when he injured the same area against Aston Villa. Moore, meanwhile, has been sidelined by a virus for the best part of two months but the 17-year-old could provide a much-needed spark in the new year when Newcastle visit on January 4. Postecoglou said: “Him and Richy are in the final phases. Next week they can start training. We’ve got a bit of a gap before the Newcastle game. “The plan is Mikey and Richy come back into first-team training next week.” Anticipated returns for Moore and Richarlison will fail to help Postecoglou against Wolves, with makeshift centre-back Archie Gray potentially set to partner up with fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma if Dragusin cannot recover. Pressed on the issue of fixture scheduling, with Spurs definitely missing eight players for Sunday’s fixture, Postecoglou said: “It is challenging. “All clubs are going to have to get their heads around it and authorities are going to have to get their heads around it. “One of two things need to happen: either you somehow change the fixture schedule, which doesn’t seem feasible, or you allow clubs bigger squads. Then you have other issues with that, as well. “The attrition rate you’re seeing and it’s not just us. We’re going through a particularly badly moment. Newcastle went through it last year and it affected them pretty badly. They were obviously in the Champions League as well and probably didn’t have the squad to cope with it. “It hits certain clubs at different times and is probably becoming more prevalent, and for all of us it’s a challenge as to how we navigate this process to keep our players healthy. “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing. For us it’s been constant since August and we’re not even halfway through the year. And they’re not going to get a break now, so these things we’re constantly assessing.”
Ben Davies is the latest to fall into that category, with the Welsh international initially primed to return for Sunday’s visit of Wolves but no longer available. Davies suffered a setback in training this week, which means Spurs could be without a fit centre-back after Radu Dragusin was forced off in the latter stages of Thursday’s 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest with an ankle issue. Ange with a team news update ahead of Wolves on Sunday 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/0EiYh4TP8j — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 27, 2024 Postecoglou is already without first-choice central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven after both failed to make it through their comeback fixture against Chelsea on December 7. “Yeah, that’s been our major problem this year. Guys who are coming back from injury rather than us losing players as such,” Postecoglou said. “We’re looking at those things and why they’re happening. It’s certainly happened too often this year where guys have come back and they’re the ones who are missing. “I think just about all of them, apart from Vic (Guglielmo Vicario), are recurrences of an injury. “Even with Romero, it was a different injury but it’s still a guy coming back, so it’s something we’re looking at.” There could be good news on the horizon with attackers Mikey Moore and Richarlison expected to return to training next week. A post shared by Richarlison (@richarlison) Richarlison suffered his own setback in November when his short-lived return after a calf issue was cut short when he injured the same area against Aston Villa. Moore, meanwhile, has been sidelined by a virus for the best part of two months but the 17-year-old could provide a much-needed spark in the new year when Newcastle visit on January 4. Postecoglou said: “Him and Richy are in the final phases. Next week they can start training. We’ve got a bit of a gap before the Newcastle game. “The plan is Mikey and Richy come back into first-team training next week.” Anticipated returns for Moore and Richarlison will fail to help Postecoglou against Wolves, with makeshift centre-back Archie Gray potentially set to partner up with fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma if Dragusin cannot recover. Pressed on the issue of fixture scheduling, with Spurs definitely missing eight players for Sunday’s fixture, Postecoglou said: “It is challenging. “All clubs are going to have to get their heads around it and authorities are going to have to get their heads around it. “One of two things need to happen: either you somehow change the fixture schedule, which doesn’t seem feasible, or you allow clubs bigger squads. Then you have other issues with that, as well. “The attrition rate you’re seeing and it’s not just us. We’re going through a particularly badly moment. Newcastle went through it last year and it affected them pretty badly. They were obviously in the Champions League as well and probably didn’t have the squad to cope with it. “It hits certain clubs at different times and is probably becoming more prevalent, and for all of us it’s a challenge as to how we navigate this process to keep our players healthy. “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing. For us it’s been constant since August and we’re not even halfway through the year. And they’re not going to get a break now, so these things we’re constantly assessing.”The weekend after Thanksgiving is historically synonymous with big reunion celebrations and bar hangouts ahead of busy holiday season ahead. But bring the party with your favorite people home with BLACK+DECKER’s bev Cocktail Maker Machine and Drink Maker on sale for Amazon’s massive Black Friday Deals event with a major 43% off markdown . If you shop now, you can get the “Best Grown Up Toy Ever” for $170, down from $300, and — if you’re a Prime member — have it shipped free in two days. The innovative machine takes the hassle out of cocktail crafting and lets you create mixologist-quality drinks in a few simple steps. You just connect your core spirits (750-milliliter standard bottles) to the easy-load liquor system, then choose from over 40 Bartesian cocktail capsules, which contain real juices, extracts and bitters. Next, you’ll select your desired drink strength, from a mocktail to a strong cocktail, and then let the machine go to work using its smart barcode-reading technology. bev dispenses exact amounts of each ingredient in the proper ratios so that whatever you or your guests are drinking is balanced and tasting precisely how it should. Plus, the LED lights on the machine’s base can illuminate your liquor bottles for a look that’s straight out of a swanky martini lounge, and with a quick switch to “Party Mode,” you can trigger a light display that rivals the energy of your favorite club. Once you’re done using the machine, the self-rinsing feature makes cleanup a cinch. Investing in this cocktail maker now is one of the best decisions you can make, especially with Christmas and New Year’s Eve right around the corner and Super Bowl Sunday not too far behind. Shop the bev Cocktail Maker Machine and Drink Maker from BLACK+DECKER for $170, only while Black Friday Deals last . Keep these other Amazon Black Friday Deals in the hopper, too. SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker for $50, instead of $100 CUISINART Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt Machine for $70, instead of $100 Breville the Barista Touch Impress Espresso Machine for $1,200, instead of $1,500 The Best Black Friday Deals in 2024 Amazon has Orastone rechargeable hand warmers that stay warm for up to 4 hours on sale for 50% off Walmart and Target have all the Xbox Black Friday deals up to $100 — but they won’t last long Black Friday 2024 mall hours: What N.J. malls are open and closed on Friday? HOKA’s Black Friday sale has Bondi 8, Clifton 9 sneaker deals and more top styles for up to $72 off — but they’re selling fast Walmart has the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker on sale for $50 off — and it’s cheaper than Amazon’s Black Friday price Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .
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Packers receiver Romeo Doubs nearly came down with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter. 49ers defensive back Renardo Green was called for pass interference on the play. Doubs’ head, though, struck the turf as he hit the ground, jarring the ball loose. He was helped off the field by Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks. The Packers have ruled him out with a concussion, which is not a good sign for his availability for Thanksgiving Day’s game against the Dolphins. Running back Josh Jacobs, who has 22 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns, is in the locker room with leg cramps. The Packers list him as questionable to return.
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