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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Filip Skobalj had 19 points in UIC's 96-83 win over La Salle on Friday. Skobalj shot 6 of 8 from the field, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 3 from the line for the Flames (4-2). Jordan Mason scored 18 points, going 5 of 8 from the floor, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and 7 for 8 from the line. Tyem Freeman had 13 points and went 4 of 5 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range). The Explorers (4-2) were led in scoring by Deuce Jones, who finished with 21 points, four assists and two steals. Daeshon Shepherd added 15 points, two steals and two blocks for La Salle. Andres Marrero also had 15 points. UIC led 48-39 at halftime, with Skobalj racking up 13 points. UIC pulled away with a 7-0 run in the second half to extend its lead to 22 points. Ahmad Henderson II led the way with a team-high 10 second-half points for UIC. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .ASPI creates all time records last week

Hornbill Festival: UK tourist dies of heart attack in NagalandNEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to knowTrump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutions

Faster, Smarter, and More Affordable – The U.S.-Made GEN3 Model Delivers Endless Hot Water, Exceptional Efficiency, and Adaptable Design for Every Home SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TrutanklessTM TKLS , the premier name in residential electric tankless water heaters, proudly announces the launch of its highly anticipated GEN3 model. Known for its innovation and engineering excellence, Trutankless is back with a cutting-edge solution that promises unmatched reliability, efficiency, and performance for every household. The Trutankless GEN3, shipping now from a U.S.-based manufacturing partner, is built to meet the needs of today's homeowners, combining professional-grade durability with advanced technology for a superior user experience. With faster time-to-temperature – reaching the set point in just 15 seconds, twice as fast as previous models – the GEN3 delivers endless hot water with exceptional energy efficiency. Its sleek, compact, wall-mounted design saves up to 9 square feet of space compared to traditional tanks, making it ideal for modern homes. "Our goal with the GEN3 is to redefine what homeowners can expect from a water heater," said Guy Newman , CEO of Trutankless. "We've taken everything our customers love about Trutankless and made it even better, more reliable, more efficient, and more adaptable to modern living, while keeping affordability in focus." The Trutankless GEN3 is packed with features that set it apart: Unmatched Performance: Never run out of hot water again, even during high-demand situations like holiday gatherings or large households. The GEN3 ensures the last shower is as hot as the first thanks to a reactive control loop and flow meter for precise temperature regulation. Energy Efficiency: Unlike traditional tank water heaters, GEN3 heats water only when needed, reducing energy consumption and utility bills by up to 20%. Adaptability: The GEN3's versatile, one-size-fits-all design and four power settings make it suitable for any home, from cozy guest casitas to expansive luxury estates. For larger water demands, units can be run in parallel. This innovation gives wholesalers the functionality of four water heaters under a single SKU, saving valuable showroom shelf space and, just as critically, freeing up room in technicians' vehicles. Durability: Made with Incoloy 840, a corrosion-resistant premium alloy, and equipped with a stainless steel heat exchanger for maximum efficiency and longevity. Every Trutankless GEN3 unit is engineered, tested, and built in the U.S. to meet the highest standards of quality. Backed by an industry-leading protection plan for sellers with a 5-year parts warranty and a 2-year full system warranty, GEN3 ensures long-term peace of mind for homeowners. Trutankless has a legacy of innovation, previously recognized as the Best Home Technology Product by the National Association of Home Builders. With GEN3, the brand continues to lead the electric tankless water heater industry, setting new benchmarks in performance and sustainability. The Trutankless GEN3 is available for purchase through authorized dealers and installers. For more information or to find a local installer, visit https://www.trutankless.com/ . About TrutanklessTM TrutanklessTM is a leading innovator in electric tankless water heating technology. Dedicated to providing efficient, reliable, and eco-friendly solutions, Trutankless continues to set the standard for performance and innovation in the residential water heating industry. https://www.instagram.com/trutankless/ https://www.facebook.com/trutankless https://www.linkedin.com/company/trutankless / View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trutankless-shipping-gen3-redefining-electric-tankless-water-heating-302320061.html SOURCE Trutankless, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.ORNL's Breakthrough: Lightning-Resistant Technology Shields Turbines and Aircraft

Democrats Frustrated Over Joe Biden Reversing Course and Pardoning His Son

Nov. 21 was a big day for Pentagon defense contracts -- and for Boeing ( BA -1.75% ) in particular. The U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Defense Logistics Agency made three separate contract awards to the giant defense contractor -- for the production of refueling tankers and maritime surveillance aircraft, and for maintenance work on V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor planes. These contracts allocated just under $4.7 billion in funding, making for one of Boeing's most lucrative business days of the year. On that very same day, though, a smaller U.S. Army award was allocated to another defense company, with which you may be less familiar. Based in Huntsville, Alabama, Dynetics is a one-time private aerospace company that defense tech specialist Leidos ( LDOS -0.37% ) snapped up for $1.7 billion in late 2019. Five years later, the Army has awarded this Leidos subsidiary $670.5 million in a single contract, to conduct research and development on hypersonic missiles. What you need to know about Leidos Reporting on the award, The Defense Post noted that Dynetics is part of a team of contractors led by Lockheed Martin , working on long-range hypersonic weapons (LRHWs) for the Army, and conventional prompt strike (CPS) hypersonic missiles for the Navy. The Pentagon's contract award contained few details on Dynetics' assignment, noting only that it involves the "glide body and thermal protection system" for hypersonic weapons systems. But the Pentagon did mention that although the Army published a broad invitation for bids for its hypersonics work, only one company felt qualified enough to bid on it: Dynetics (which now means Leidos). And that caught my interest. I've been following Leidos as a defense stock for some years now. I discussed the stock briefly earlier this year when surveying valuations (and concluding that, by and large, defense stocks cost too much ); I noted that among 10 large defense stocks, Leidos stood out as the single best-performing defense stock in the U.S., having more than tripled in share price over the last seven years. Even more interesting is Leidos' potential to keep on outperforming the rest of the defense industry. Valuing Leidos Consider: From 2003 through 2023, the valuation of Leidos stock averaged an enterprise-value-to-free-cash-flow (EV/FCF) ratio of 1.3. That's similar to the stock's current enterprise-value-to-sales (EV/S) ratio of 1.6, and price-to-sales (P/S) of 1.4. Meanwhile, the average defense stock today has an EV/S of 2.2 and a P/S of 1.8. Compared to others in the industry, Leidos' stock looks relatively cheap. Leidos also looks attractive when considered on its own merits. Valued at just under $22 billion in market capitalization, for example, the stock sells for a relatively attractive price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of just 18.2. Relative to its 15.4% long-term expected earnings growth rate and its 1% dividend yield, that gives the stock a total return ratio of 1.1 -- within 10% of "fair value." Additionally, strong free cash flow (relative to reported net income) gives the stock a price-to-free-cash-flow (P/FCF) ratio of 17.4. Substituting FCF for net income gives the stock a total return ratio even closer to fair value. Is it time to buy Leidos stock? While all these calculations suggest that Leidos isn't quite "cheap" just yet, it does appear to be cheaper than almost any other defense stock. At the same time, Leidos is coming off a strong third-quarter earnings report : It featured better than expected sales and earnings, an upwards revision to guidance, and (perhaps best of all) confirmation of tremendous momentum in contract wins. New contracts won during the quarter (bookings) outmassed bills for work performed (billings, or revenue) by nearly 2 to 1. (To be precise, the company's book-to-bill ratio was 1.9.) And this was before Leidos was awarded its new $670.5 million hypersonics contract, which arrived after the close of the quarter. Viewed in light of the stock's already defensible valuation -- one verging on bargain territory -- the company's strong bookings performance in Q3, plus its big hypersonics win early in Q4, all suggest that big things lie ahead for Leidos. While not a bargain yet, it's close enough to fair value to be worth watching in case the stock market suffers a pullback.Police say searchers don’t expect to find woman in Pennsylvania sinkhole alive UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania has become a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but that the search for her remains continues. Limani says crews have seen "no signs of any form of life or anything.” Pollard was last seen alive Monday evening when she went out looking for her cat in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. WWE is seeking a bigger stage and Netflix, pushing for more live events, is providing it WWE will perform on a stage next month that could be vastly larger than its current home on cable television when it makes its “Raw” debut on Netflix. The sports entertainment company is moving to a platform with about 283 million subscribers worldwide as it departs its current home on the USA Network, which averaged 688,000 viewers in prime-time last year, according to the Nielsen company. For Netflix, onboarding the WWE is part of strategic move to air more live events on the heels of a hugely successful fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul that was viewed by more than 60 million people. Michigan court upholds light sentence for woman who killed dad in dispute over ride DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Court of Appeals has declined to overturn a light jail sentence for a young woman who killed her father by burning him with a dangerous powder. Prosecutors said Megan Imirowicz was upset when her father couldn’t drive her to a hair appointment before her 18th birthday party. Imirowicz was sentenced to only a year in jail in 2023. She actually spent more than a year in custody because she was locked up before trial and while awaiting her punishment in suburban Detroit. Sumo wrestlers bring 1,500 years of tradition to London as the sport has an international moment LONDON (AP) — London’s Royal Albert Hall is preparing to host a different kind of spectacle: Sumo wrestling. Wrestlers put on an exhibition of heavyweight grappling to promote a tournament scheduled for next October. It marks only the second time an elite five-day tournament will be held outside Japan. The first was held in 1991 at the same venue. Organizers are hoping to whip up the kind of excitement that was generated three decades ago, when the deeply ritualistic sport attracted sell-out crowds and a national television audience. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. Jury revisits key videos in NYC subway chokehold death trial NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors have asked to review police and bystander video at the heart of the New York City chokehold manslaughter case against Daniel Penny. The request came during a second day of deliberations Wednesday. The anonymous jury also asked to rehear part of a city medical examiner’s testimony. The request included testimony about her decision to issue a death certificate without getting toxicology test results for Jordan Neely. He was the agitated subway rider whom Penny held him around the neck for roughly six minutes. Penny has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Prosecutors say he recklessly killed Neely. Penny's defense maintains he was justified in acting to protect fellow subway riders from Neely. Relatives hunt for the missing after Guinea stadium crush amid fears official death toll is too low CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Kambaly Kouroumah was searching a local morgue for his teenage brother, Adama, who died after chaos erupted at a soccer game in southern Guinea’s Nzerekore city. Adama, 15, was among 56 people that officials said were killed in Sunday's crush, although rights groups reported a death toll nearly three times higher. Local media, rights groups and witnesses say security forces used tear gas to respond after fans began to throw stones to protest a referee's decision during the soccer game that was organized in honor of Guinea's junta leader, Col. Mamadi Doumbouya. Many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates, videos showed. Power shortages in Ecuador are melting away the future of a small town’s ice-cream industry SALCEDO, Ecuador (AP) — Ice-cream production in this quiet Ecuadorian town began in the mid-20th century in a convent for Franciscan nuns. The nuns sold their creamy popsicles in town to gather funds for the poor. But the people of Salcedo saw a business opportunity and began experimenting with new flavors and techniques, establishing a thriving popsicle industry that has made their small town famous among ice-cream lovers. But now, the South American nation is struggling with a relentless wave of power cuts that threaten the future of Salcedo’s ice-cream industry, melting away its dreams of a more prosperous future. Senegalese artisans in the spotlight as they exhibit for the first time at a prestigious art event DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — For the artistic and cultural elites of the West African nation of Senegal, the monthlong Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Arts is a celebratory moment. But it wasn’t until this year that the local artisans in the Soumbedioune crafts market, just off the Corniche and at the doorstep on the Medina working-class neighborhood, realized what the Biennale was. Craftsmanship is deeply rooted in the country’s culture, but its role has declined in recent years. As living costs rise, many Senegalese opt for cheaper, Chinese-imported products. And those that can afford it buy Western clothes and furniture to mark their social status. Eminem's mother Debbie Nelson, whose rocky relationship fueled the rapper's lyrics, dies at age 69 Debbie Nelson, the mother of rapper Eminem whose rocky relationship with her son was known widely through his song lyrics, has died. She was 69. Eminem’s longtime representative Dennis Dennehy confirmed Nelson’s death in an email on Tuesday. He did not provide a cause of death, although Nelson had battled lung cancer. Nelson’s fraught relationship with her son, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, has been no secret since the Detroit rapper became a star. Nelson brought and settled two defamation lawsuits over Eminem’s statements about her in magazines and on radio talk shows. In her 2008 book, “My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,” she attempted to set the record straight.

Inside £2m three-storey home with 'tasteful decor and impressive features'

LUANDA, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden's long-delayed trip to Africa had many of the hallmarks of a traditional state visit: There was a 12-shot cannon salute. A series of warm handshakes with Angolan President João Lourenço. Celebratory music. Photo opportunities. But another issue overshadowed the visit. When reporters tried to question the president about why he gave his son Hunter a far-reaching pardon after repeatedly saying he would not do so, Biden tried to brush aside the questions. He gestured toward Lourenço and laughed, declaring, “Welcome to America.” Biden saluted Lourenço for his efforts to bolster stronger U.S. relations, declared that Africa and its booming youth population would shape the world's future and even indulged his love of trains by championing a major railway project that his administration says could change the way the entire continent does business. Some takeaways from the president's visit: Biden offered the joke about America before his meeting with Lourenço, and he answered a question on Tuesday about the political situation in South Korea, saying only that he'd not been briefed — something that was rectified moments later when advisers filled him in on what was happening as the motorcade sped away from a site where he'd given a speech. Other than that, Biden went the entire trip, which began Sunday night and included two brief stopovers in Cape Verde in addition to Angola, dodging reporters. He did similar during last month's six-day visit to South America . Since Biden announced his pardon decision shortly before climbing aboard Air Force One bound for Africa, it fell to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to spend nearly half an hour offering long and awkward answers to uncomfortable questions aboard the aircraft hours later. Biden said in a statement explaining the pardon that, while he believed in the justice system, he also felt that politics had infected the cases against his son and “enough was enough.” Jean-Pierre maintained that he wasn't trying to have it both ways. “I don’t think it’s a contradiction,” she said. “Two things could be true. You can believe in the Department of Justice system, and you could also believe that the process was infected politically.” She also bristled when it was suggested that such complaints about the Department of Justice smacked of President-elect Donald Trump's promises to dismantle the “deep state” of federal bureaucrats that he's said for years are out to unfairly undermine him and fellow top Republicans. During his meeting with Lourenço at the presidential palace, Biden said, “The United States is all in on Africa,” and extolled how strong Angolan relations were with Washington. His administration has invested billions in Angola, with the centerpiece being promoting the Lobito Corridor, a vast project to revitalize supply chains by refurbishing 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of train lines in Angola, Zambia and Congo. Given where Angola was barely a generation ago, the alliance is in many ways remarkable. An oil-rich nation on Africa's southwest coast, Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1975, but spent subsequent years embroiled in civil war, which often featured proxy fighting between U.S.-backed forces and those allied with the Soviet Union. Even today, the country's red and black flag features a yellow machete and half-cog, an insignia resembling the Soviet hammer and sickle. But Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, and Lourenço, like many leaders of African nations, has already begun suggesting that he's looking toward a Trump-dominated future. Biden administration officials say they're hopeful Trump and top Republicans will continue a business-friendly approach to investing in Africa that includes continuing to support the Lobito Corridor. Biden lauded Lourenço for helping boost his country's relationship with the United States, and he said the youth of Africa would change the world. He also visited the country’s national slavery museum, stressing how Angola and the United States — which were once linked by the horrors of enslaved human beings, now could increasingly be linked by economic opportunity. But if Biden came to Angola hoping to cement his foreign policy legacy in this country and throughout Africa, it will actually fall to Trump — the man he beat in the 2020 election and spent much of 2024 running against before bowing out of the race in July — to see it through.