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BOARDWALKTECH REPORTS SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed confidence Wednesday that Elon Musk would not use his proximity to Donald Trump to harm business rivals, calling such actions "profoundly un-American." Speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference, Altman addressed concerns about Musk's announced role heading a new Department of Government Efficiency in the incoming Donald Trump administration, and whether he might use it to favor his own companies. "I may turn out to be wrong, but I believe pretty strongly that Elon will do the right thing," Altman said. "It would be profoundly un-American to use political power to hurt your competitors and advantage your own businesses." Even if there are "lots of things not to like about him... it would go so deeply against the values I believe he holds very dear to himself that I'm not that worried about it." Musk, an OpenAI co-founder who later departed the company, is currently suing Altman's firm and Microsoft, claiming they shifted from the project's original nonprofit mission. He has since launched xAI, reportedly valued at $50 billion, making it one of the world's most valuable startups. Altman said that the court battle was "tremendously sad" and that he once saw Musk as "a mega hero." Musk became a close ally of Trump during his campaign, spending over $100 million to boost his presidential bid and joining him at rallies. Since the election victory, he has been a frequent presence in the Trump transition and was reportedly on the line when Google CEO Sundar Pichai called the president-elect to congratulate him on winning the election. The tycoon's businesses have deep connections with governments -- both in the United States and elsewhere -- and his new position has raised concerns about conflict of interest. During the interview, Altman also lowered expectations for the importance of OpenAI's models achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), a benchmark of human-level intelligence the company has long set as the goal for its technology. "My guess is we will hit AGI sooner than most people in the world think, and it will matter much less," he said. "A lot of the safety concerns that we and others expressed actually don't come at the AGI moment... AGI can get built. The world goes on mostly the same way," he said. arp/aha Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.Green scores 20 as Rhode Island downs Detroit Mercy 81-75None
A federal judge found New York City in contempt for its failure to stem violence at its notorious Rikers Island prison complex, as abysmal conditions have continued at the facility nearly a decade after a settlement meant to end them. “The current rates of use of force, stabbings and slashings, fights, assaults on staff, and in-custody deaths remain extraordinarily high, and there has been no substantial reduction in the risk of harm currently facing those who live and work in the Rikers Island jails,” Judge Laura Taylor Swain wrote in her scathing ruling. The decision could put an outside authority, known as a receiver, in direct control of New York City jails. City officials have been directed to draw up receivership plans by mid-January. In 2015, city jails fell under federal oversight as part of the settlement in a class-action lawsuit from prisoners, who argued violence inside facilities like Rikers was so severe it violated their constitutional rights. Since then, despite regular monitoring and a suite of recommendations, violence inside Rikers has gotten “demonstrably worse,” the court wrote on Wednesday, even as New York spends more than $400,000 a year per inmate, six times the average of other large U.S. cities. “One of the most disturbing statistics plaguing the Rikers Island jails is the number of deaths of people in custody in recent years. Nineteen people died in Defendants’ custody in 2022, nine more died in 2023, and five died in the first eight months of 2024,” Wednesday’s ruling reads. The Legal Aid Society and the law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel, which helped bring the original class action, celebrated Wednesday’s ruling as an important step forward, calling it a “historic decision.” “The culture of brutality on Rikers Island has resisted judicial and political reform efforts for years,” they said in a statement to The New York Times . Civil rights advocates also praised the court’s decision. “Rikers Island is dangerous, inhumane, and an unconstitutional nightmare,” the New York Civil Liberties Union told The Independent. “ Today’s historic decision shows by clear and convincing evidence the Department of Correction’s systemic failure to protect the lives of those in its custody, the vast majority of whom are Black and Brown New Yorkers.” The administration of New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Wednesday it had made “significant progress towards addressing the decadeslong neglect and issues on Rikers Island.” “We are proud of our work, but recognize there is more to be done and look forward to working with the federal monitoring team on our shared goal of continuing to improve the safety of everyone in our jails,” a spokesperson told Gothamist. A receiver could dissolve or alter labor contracts for staff in New York City jails, whom critics say have abused policies like unlimited sick leave, often leaving facilities like Rikers understaffed. The ruling marks the latest high-profile accusation of dysfunction at the facility. Earlier this week, attorneys for Harvey Weinstein accused the prison of being like a “gulag” as the disgraced Hollywood mogul awaits a retrial of his 2020 rape conviction. “When I last visited him, I found him with blood spatter on his prison garb, possibly from IVs, clothes that had not been washed for weeks, and he had not even been provided clean underwear – hardly sanitary conditions for someone with severe medical conditions,” Weinstein’s attorney, Imran H. Ansari, said in a statement. In 2015, Kalief Browder killed himself after being held in Rikers, often in solitary confinement, for three years without trial on charges related to stealing a backpack. His death generated widespread outrage.
WASHINGTON — The man tapped to be Donald Trump’s top legislative liaison will face challenges on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue as he manages a mercurial boss and tough math in both chambers of Congress. If the president-elect’s late-night and pre-sunrise social media blasts about legislation and lawmakers don’t prove challenging enough for former congressional aide James Braid and his incoming White House legislative affairs staff, the tight margins in what will be the Republican-run House and Senate will likely only further complicate matters. But Republican sources say Braid’s history in conservative circles should help the Trump team clear any potential hurdles, predicting several legislative wins next year. Braid is a former policy director for the hard-line conservative House Freedom Caucus and was a staffer for former South Carolina GOP Rep. Mark Sanford and for North Carolina Republican Ted Budd, when he served in the House. He most recently was a senior aide to Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the incoming vice president. “James is a very serious staffer. He works so hard and puts a lot of blood, sweat and tears into whatever he’s working on,” a former Senate GOP aide who has worked directly with Braid said this week. “I could see James and Trump getting along very well. Both are very ‘America First.’ They’re both very boisterous and full of energy — and they’re both hardcore and get-down-to-business guys.” A veteran of the first Trump administration as a legislative affairs aide in the White House Office of Management and Budget, Braid will be able to “tap into his vast well of knowledge about the appropriations process,” according to the former Senate GOP aide. “He’s a strategic thinker and has a lot of political savvy, and is someone who has a history of working with coalitions to get things done,” the former aide added. ‘One of the toughest jobs’ Several Republican sources this week said Trump and his incoming team were eager to, as one said, “put points on the board early.” That means Braid will be busy even before Day 1, as sources noted that House and Senate Republicans and their aides already have begun to look toward the new Congress and advancing Trump’s agenda. G. William Hoagland, a former senior Senate Republican staffer, said in an email that Braid will have “one of the toughest jobs in the White House.” “I would expect there could be some real shouting matches, or at least difficult discussions, with Trump as to why [Braid] cannot get certain House members to fall in line, unlike 2017, when Republicans had nearly a 40-seat majority,” added Hoagland, now with the Bipartisan Policy Center. “I don’t envy his job at all and he will be inundated with outside advisers — Elon Musk, etc. — not to mention new Cabinet officers and [OMB Director pick] Russ Vought.” Vought, who also served as acting OMB director toward the end of Trump’s initial term, could push Braid particularly hard from the White House side of Pennsylvania Avenue. Vought was also a key driver of the conservative Heritage Foundation-led “Project 2025” initiative which calls for deep cuts to federal programs and spending as well as a major overhaul of the federal apparatus — all of which would need Congress’ blessing. “Based on the conversations that I’ve had with the Trump team and some folks who are probably going in [the administration], a big part of what that will be, at least at the start, will be going after the ‘woke’ and weaponized pieces of appropriations,” the former Senate GOP aide said. “And also dealing with Ukraine aid, if that conflict isn’t already over by March,” when a potential pre-recess stopgap spending measure could be due to expire. (Lawmakers are expected this month to extend government funding through the early spring.) Braid did not respond to a message seeking an interview. Nor did Vance’s Senate office. Working the margins Republicans expect to move out on fast-track budget legislation under Congress’ special reconciliation rules, but crafting legislation that both moderate and conservative members can support has been tricky in the past. Finding a way to get that done will be crucial, GOP sources said, because any reconciliation legislation likely would not garner a single Democratic vote in either chamber. “It may be that James’ biggest issue for his future in that position is to quickly establish a good working relationship with the House leadership team including both the speaker’s and minority leader’s offices,” Hoagland said. “This is critical, given the margins.” With the last House race being called by The Associated Press early Wednesday, House Republicans will hold just a paper-thin majority next year — 220-215, assuming full attendance. That margin is, at least temporarily, on track to shrink in the early months of next year. Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned from Congress last month shortly before withdrawing from consideration to be Trump’s attorney general, has said he will not return next year despite winning a fifth term in November. Two other members are expected to depart to join the new administration — New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House GOP conference chair who is Trump’s pick to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Florida Rep. Michael Waltz, the incoming national security adviser. While special elections are organized and held for those seats, Braid will have his work cut out for him maneuvering members of a House GOP conference that the former senior aide quipped “can go at each other often.” But in doing so, the former aide noted, Braid will have a political reality on his side during the sometimes-testy talks about the contents of legislation. “Remember, all those House members are up for reelection in two years,” he said. “So going against Trump won’t be very wise if they don’t want a primary opponent. I’d expect them to, eventually, fall in line.” Aaron Cutler, a former House GOP leadership aide, said in an email this week that “with tight margins in both chambers, Braid’s task will be to maximize every opportunity for legislative success,” adding: “By focusing on shared priorities and leveraging the president’s strong connection with the Republican base, they’ll have an opportunity to secure wins even in a closely divided Congress.” Beyond the fast-track reconciliation bills, however, Trump and Braid would need to secure at least some Democratic votes for other priorities. Some members of the opposition party already this week were giving Republicans some subtle advice. “Our divisions still run very deep, but our task in this chamber cannot and will not change,” Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer, fresh off being elected by his conference to continue in his role, said Tuesday. “We are sent here to make life better for the American people.” ©2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.BOARDWALKTECH REPORTS SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS
Green scores 20 as Rhode Island downs Detroit Mercy 81-75
Blue Yonder moves closer to full recovery after November ransomware attackLAS VEGAS — If Texas coach Steve Sarkisian holds aloft the College Football Playoff trophy next month, that will be bad news for BetMGM Sportsbook. It would be similarly disappointing if any of the coaches at Boise State, Indiana or Arizona State end up celebrating a title with confetti falling all around them inside Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Wait, what? Texas has attracted a lot of money all season to go all the way, but those other schools provide the hope of a big payoff. The fifth-seeded Longhorns are the co-favorite at BetMGM with No. 1 and unbeaten Oregon at 7-2 odds; the other three are least 40-1, while Georgia is right behind Oregon and Texas as the next favorite. "These teams get hot and people just want to have a flyer on them," BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said. "They don't want to be standing there and not have a ticket on some of these long-shot teams." People are also reading... Expanding the playoff field from four to 12 teams this year meant more betting in general on college football and more varieties of wagering on the postseason. There were meaningful games played in the final month by not only Arizona State, Boise State and Indiana, but also SMU, Army and UNLV — a number of teams not always in the national title conversation. "It's one of the highest handles we've ever had on our national-championship market," Magee said. "We're in more states, for one, but the activity and the betting patterns we're seeing, it definitely feels a lot more than it has in years past." Riding with the Mustangs Magee said BetMGM has received action on both sides of the first-round game between 11th-seeded SMU and sixth-seeded Penn State, but the Mustangs have drawn notable action at DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook. Money on SMU dropped Penn State from a 9-point favorite at DraftKings to 8 1/2. "Any time they've played a real good team, they've had trouble," Johnny Avello, DraftKings race and sports operations director, said of the Nittany Lions. "SMU shows that they're pretty good on both sides of the football and pretty resilient as a team. Always in the game. Always finds ways to fight back." Joey Feazel, who oversees football trading for Caesars, said much of the early betting in general was on underdogs. "Usually, you see the dog money for these teams come late, especially on the sharps' (professional bettors) side," Feazel said. Little love for the Broncos Boise State, which as the third seed has a first-round bye, will be the underdog in its quarterfinal matchup with Penn State or SMU. The Broncos got into the field as the highest-ranked Group of Five champion, but Avello said that doesn't mean they are one of the nation's top 12 teams (they are ranked No. 8 by AP and No. 9 by CFP). Avello said BYU, Colorado and Miami — none of which made the playoff — all would be favored over them. "There are a lot of teams that aren't in the playoffs that would be favored," Avello said. "That's just not the way these playoffs work." Feazel said Boise State not being able to play at home on its blue carpet will be a notable disadvantage. Boise State's quarterfinal game will be at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. "It will be all neutral," Feazel said. "It's a big step up in class for Boise." How's the weather up there? Instead of all the games being played in climate-controlled domes or warm-weather locales — as has been in the case in past postseasons — three of the four first-round matchups will take place in the Northeast and Midwest. While that might not make a difference when Notre Dame hosts in-state foe Indiana, Ohio State will be at home against Tennessee and SMU visits Penn State. BetMGM favors all four home teams by more than a touchdown. "You have to take the weather into account for some of these games," Magee said. "It's going to be really cool to see a team like Tennessee that will have to go up to Columbus, where it can get really cold. SMU has to go from Dallas to Happy Valley. That's definitely going to be one of the coldest games a lot of those kids have played in their lives." Hypothetical matchup SMU was the last team in the field, getting the benefit of the doubt over Alabama. The Mustangs had one fewer defeat than the three-loss Crimson Tide, who did not appear in the SEC title game. SMU lost on a 56-yard field goal to Clemson in the ACC championship. The sportsbook operators said the Tide would be favored by 5-10 points if they met SMU on a neutral field. Be the first to knowMeta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility
