When employers transfer pensions to insurers, federal PBGC protection disappears and state guaranty ****** ociations take over, covering only $100,000 to $500,000 in annuity present value.
A $2,000 monthly pension paid over 15 years is worth roughly $249,000, putting it right at most states' $250,000 coverage cap before any survivor benefit is added.
Retirees should verify the insurer's financial strength ratings, confirm all benefit terms match exactly, and check whether their state's guaranty ****** ociation fully covers their pension's present value.
Building a portfolio and living off one are two completely different skills, and almost ****** ody teaches the second. This problem is what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps, and it is free today. Read more here. (Sponsor)
He read the letter twice before realizing that his old employer is moving his pension to an insurance company, but the monthly amount isn't changing. That part was a relief, even though the letter didn't explain what else was changing. The answer is in the fine print about who stands behind the check.

#check

The Minnesota Vikings' unbeaten start has drawn attention to quarterback Kyler Murray, whom an NFL ******* yst identified as the team's most notable offseason addition. Murray's arrival has given Minnesota a new option under center as the club continues its strong run through the 2026 season.
Murray joined the Vikings after the team moved on from its previous quarterback plans, bringing his experience and mobility to the offense. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs has added another dimension to Minnesota's attack. The move also placed him in a system designed to use his athleticism while maintaining a balanced offensive approach.
Quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The quarterback's mobility has been a key part of his early impact. Murray can extend plays when protection breaks down and create opportunities outside the pocket, forcing defenses to account for his movement. His scrambling ability can also open passing lanes and provide an additional threat on designed runs, making it more difficult for opponents to anticipate the offense's next move.
Minnesota's early results have strengthened the attention surrounding Murray's role. The Vikings have maintained an unbeaten record, with their defense contributing to the team's success while the offense works to establish consistency. Murray's presence has given the unit flexibility, particularly when plays develop differently than planned or when the defense applies pressure.

#quarterback

The Green Bay Packers took down the visiting Carolina Panthers on "Thursday Night Football" to open Week 8 in the NFL. The big stats to know: Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes and Josh Jacobs scored twice, while the Packers defense produced six sacks and held the Panthers to just 3.7 yards per play.
Five other stats to explain the Packers' 27-19 win over the Panthers:
The Packers pressured Bryce Young on 48.9 percent of his dropbacks on Thursday night, and he completed only seven passes for 41 yards and took six sacks while pressured, per Next Gen Stats. Brenton ******* Jr. (6), Dani Dennis-Sutton and Lukas Van Ness (5) led the way in the pressure department for the Packers, who consistently won at the line of scrimmage and forced Young into rushed decisions or improvised throws. Because of the pass protection issues, Young completed only two passes thrown more than 10 yards downfield and attempted only one pass more than 20 yards downfield.
While Bryce Young languished under pressure, Jordan Love consistently got the ball out of his hands quick and on time. Per Next Gen Stats, Love completed 23 of 25 passes thrown in under 2.5 seconds after the snap, completing negating any pass-rush. His 23 "quick" completions were the most in a game by a quarterback this season and by far the most in his career, beating the 19 he had during Week 7 in 2024. Two of his three touchdowns came on quick throws under 2.5 seconds. The Panthers tried to blitz Love, but he consistently found quick answers to beat potential pressure.
The Packers turned the ball over three times: Coleman Owen's fumble on the opening kickoff return, Christian Watson's fumble in the second quarter and Jordan Love's interception to start the fourth quarter. But the Panthers turned those three takeaways into all of three points. And the field goal came after Owen's fumble set up the Panthers inside the 30-yard line. Turnovers can be huge momentum-turning plays in games, but not if a defense stands tall. Jonathan Gannon's group made sure mistakes made didn't turn into a run of points for the Panthers.

#panthers #packers #young #jordan

Carolina Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard carried the ball 22 times for 81 yards and a touchdown versus the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. He also caught seven passes (on eight targets) for 38 yards.
SOURCE: USA TODAY
Why It Matters: It was obvious that the Panthers wanted to duplicate their game plan from 2025 when they upset the Packers by handing the ball to Rico Dowdle and bleeding the clock. It worked for a time, but ultimately Hubbard wasn't nearly as successful. Still, the veteran back logged 29 touches for 119 yards and a touchdown during Thursday Night Football, which is strong production. The extra rest before a Week 9 matchup with the Broncos should help Hubbard heal up, and he's likely to be featured once again as Carolina works through some significant pass-protection issues. Hubbard is a low-end RB1 or strong RB2 right now.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chuba Hubbard tops 100 total yards, scores on TNF

#packers #today #touchdown

After years of almost entirely focusing on the transfer portal, Rick Pitino is intensifying his efforts on the high school recruiting trail, and another class of 2027 prospect is landing on the Red Storm's radar.
Four-star Canadian recruit Godson Okokoh is reportedly scheduling a visit to St. John's on November 6 and 7, according to LeagueReady's Sam Kayser. It is unclear whether Okokoh will attend the Red Storm's matchup against Iona at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, November 8.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Ottawa is the 111th-ranked prospect in his class according to 247Sports' composite rankings and will compete in this year's Overtime Elite season with Bella Vista Prep, who will play as the City Reapers in the league. He flashed his rim protection and inside scoring in the Nike EYBL Scholastic division and the Under Armour Circuit last season, and also made a strong impression at this summer's NBPA Top 100 camp.
Okokoh made only one other visit this year at West Virginia on October 6. His offers include Kansas, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Creighton, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, and Arizona State.
Earlier this year, Okokoh helped Canada pull off a shocking upset over the United States to win its first-ever FIBA U18 AmeriCup gold medal. He averaged 9.0 points and 5.4 rebounds over five games and recorded a team-high eight boards in the championship final.

#high #according #made

Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young completed 23 of 41 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
SOURCE: USA TODAY
Why It Matters: It was clear from the jump that the Panthers wanted to control the game with Chuba Hubbard. It worked early, but once the Packers pushed out to a 27-10 lead, it was up to Young to move the ball. He had some success, mostly on quick-hitting passes, but was under constant duress, getting sacked six times on the night. The Panthers get a few extra days to regroup before facing the Broncos in Week 9. We'll see if that's enough to help get their protection issues sorted out and get Young back to the player he was in five games before the bye. Given his struggles over the last two weeks, however, it'd be a tough call to slot him into your starting lineup against Denver.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bryce Young takes a beating in Week 8 setback

#passes

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a true star in the making on offense, none other than third-year center Zach Frazier, and he's not afraid to acknowledge how great he's playing this season.
Speaking with reporters ahead of the Week 8 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, Frazier said what fans were already thinking about his level of play in 2026: it's the best season he's had so far.
"I feel like, so far, this is the best season I've played," Frazier said via Chris Harlan of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I don't really focus on myself. I just want to keep building on it and just keep being consistent for the team."
Frazier, drafted by the Steelers in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has emerged as one of the top centers in the league thanks to his consistency in pass protection and stellar run-blocking technique.
Over the past seven games, Frazier has allowed 0 sacks and 1 QB hit while also recording a solid PFF run-blocking grade of 78.9, which is the second-best among all eligible centers.

#frazier #steelers

For an average single person planning to stop working at 64, a $1.2 million 401(k) account and $2,800 Social Security benefit could provide enough income to make ends meet during retirement. Widely used guidelines suggest your annual income may be around $81,600, which may or may not be more than your annual expenses. Much depends on individual circumstances, including the kind of retirement lifestyle you desire, your location and future trends of inflation, taxes and investment returns. To get a comprehensive workup of your retirement budget, take the question to a financial advisor.
Income and expenses represent the two sides of your retirement budget. Both are equally important and decisions you make regarding either can affect the overall accuracy and dependability of the budget.
You can estimate expenses by using averages for typical retirees or by considering specifics of your situation with estimate for categories such as housing, healthcare and taxes. Similarly, you can estimate future income with general guidelines or by accounting for specifics such as your personal investment preferences.
In your case, we'll start with income since we have information about that. Despite the possibility that Social Security benefits will be cut by about 20% after 2035, your $2,800 Social Security benefit can probably be relied upon. And benefits are indexed to a cost-of-living benchmark, providing protection against inflation.
Note, however, that if you wait to claim benefits, your monthly amount will increase every year until you are 70. By claiming at age 64 rather than waiting until your full retirement age of 67, you are receiving 20% less. If you wait until age 70, you'll get 24% more than at 67. And you'll receive the higher amount, adjusted annually for cost of living, as long as you live.

#Retirement #benefits

Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) is offering a dividend yield of roughly 6% today. That is well above the roughly 1% yield on offer from the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and the 1.4% average yield of pharmaceutical stocks. There are good reasons for the negative view of Pfizer, but investors may be ignoring the company's over 100-year history of success. Here's why you may want to consider buying this out-of-favor dividend stock while others are fearful.
Pfizer's stock rocketed higher during the coronavirus pandemic, as investors myopically focused on the company's COVID vaccine. When COVID turned out to be a less serious long-term threat than originally believed, Wall Street dumped Pfizer. At this point, the stock is down more than 50% from its 2021 high. That is a big part of the story behind the high yield.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
However, there's another piece that is more fundamental to the pharmaceutical industry. Like all drug makers, Pfizer's drugs receive time-limited patent protections. When patents expire, generic versions of the medications can be produced. That generally leads to a dramatic decline in revenue from Pfizer's drugs. Right now, Pfizer is facing down some notable patent expirations. This is a completely normal dynamic in the pharmaceutical sector.
Patent expirations are why drug companies are always on the lookout for new drugs. The problem is that patent expirations follow a set schedule, but drug development does not. Pfizer's drug pipeline isn't producing major new drugs right now, and it looks like it may have to work through a period in which new drugs won't fully offset revenue lost to patent expirations. This isn't uncommon, either, but investors are likely focusing on the short term rather than the long term when it comes to Pfizer.

#patent #yield #drug #expirations

When True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 4, the chain's CEO Jeff Chandler tried to make it clear that the company planned to continue operating.
"This process is the best path forward to simplify the business and focus on what we do best: delivering craveable, health-forward food and genuine hospitality. We are confident this step will help us build a stronger True Food Kitchen for the future," he said in a press release.
True Food Kitchen serves an upscale clientele looking for healthy food. Most of its stores are located in higher-end shopping or lifestyle plazas. That contributed to its financial problems, Chad Van Horn, founder and managing partner of Van Horn Law Group in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., shared with TheStreet.
"True Food Kitchen did not file because people stopped eating there. Sales were essentially flat, about $312 million last year against $314 million the year before, and the reported debt is around $42 million. That is a cost and footprint problem, not a demand problem," he said.
As part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, True Food Kitchen shared that it had already closed 12 restaurants. Those locations completed their final service on Oct. 4, but the initial release did not share which locations were closing.

#chapter

Hollywood's brightest continue to shine even as the years roll on, proving that true star power never fades. These 11 living legends, all in their 90s or older, have shaped entertainment history and remain beloved by generations of fans. Join us as we celebrate their remarkable lives and legacies with a look at the faces and moments that embody the enduring magic of Hollywood.
MEGA
With iconic roles in suspense classics, Tippi Hedren remains a glamorous, pioneering force on and off screen. Her passion for animal rescue and advocacy has made her a real-life hero, engaging fans and conservationists alike. She founded the Roar Foundation in 1983, which supports the Shambala Preserve, an 80-acre wildlife habitat in Acton, California, dedicated to caring for lions, tigers, and other big cats, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. She continues to inspire, both through cherished films and her ongoing commitment to wildlife protection.
MEGA
Shirley MacLaine's decades-spanning career has earned her a place among Hollywood's most prolific actors. Known for both comedic brilliance and dramatic depth, her multi-award-winning career includes unforgettable film and television performances. She earned the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Terms of Endearment, one of six Oscar nominations across her storied career, per ShirleyMacLaine.com. Her outspoken nature and writing continue to captivate and provoke thought even today.

#even

An expert believes Meghan Markle and Prince Harry should fund their own everyday security in the UK. According to a royal expert, British taxpayers should not cover the Sussexes' day-to-day protection. Her comments followed a security scare at their children's school.
A royal expert explains how the school scare affects Prince Harry's security argument. The Duke and **** ss of Sussex spoke out after photographers were seen looking into the grounds of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet's school.
A spokesperson for the couple called the photographers "extraordinarily reckless." They also described the incident as an unacceptable intrusion into children's privacy.
Reports claim that two paparazzi were at the scene and appeared to work together. Lynn Carratt told The Express US that the incident strengthens Harry's case that his family faces genuine security and privacy concerns. She said photographers allegedly walking around the school perimeter and monitoring children makes the couple's need for proper security obvious.
However, Carratt does not believe that automatically means British taxpayers should fund the couple's day-to-day protection. She noted Harry and Meghan chose to step back as working royals and later chose to return to live in the UK.

#security #prince #carratt #fund

Relatives of some soldiers killed in the Iran war joined dozens of Gold Star families from prior U.S. conflicts Tuesday at the White House, where President Donald Trump offered words of comfort and candles were lit for the fallen service members, according to one of the widows who attended.
Not all families of the six soldiers killed March 1 in the deadliest attack of the Iran war opted to attend. Troops who survived the attack have raised questions about why they were stationed at a site that didn't have sufficient air protection and was viewed as a likely target.
Michelle Tietjens and other relatives have said they are angry the Army still hasn't answered questions over whether enough was done to protect their loved ones. But Tietjens and her teenage son traveled from Bellevue, Nebraska, to attend the event to honor her husband, Master Sgt. Noah Tietjens, who was killed along with five other Army Reserve soldiers by an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait.
"I decided to go originally because my son wanted to go," Tietjens said. "But then I wanted to see what it was about as well. I wanted to also go to support my husband's memory."
She said they toured several rooms of the White House and took a photo with Trump and the first lady, Melania Trump. Tietjens said the president told them that he wished he had her teenage son's full head of curly hair.

#soldiers #wanted #House

When my wife, son, and I pick a restaurant for dinner, we all have to make sacrifices.
It's challenging to find an eatery that offers something for each of us. The more specialized a restaurant gets, however, the less likely we are to eat there.
That reality hurts chains that focus on healthy food.
People may say they want to eat healthy, but chains like True Food Kitchen face a major challenge when it comes to people actually choosing to eat there.
My wife can order a salad at Chili's, but I can't get ribs and my son can't order chicken tenders at True Food Kitchen. That's one of the challenges facing a healthy restaurant brand that has now filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a press release.

#restaurant #kitchen #chains

LOCHIEL, Ariz. — For more than two months, activists sat high up in the branches of a giant cottonwood tree here on the border with Mexico in an effort to block federal contractors from knocking it down to make way for President Donald Trump’s $46.5 billion border wall expansion.
But that standoff came to an end Monday when demonstrators say more than 50 Customs and Border Protection agents raided the activist camp and an excavator knocked down what they called a “grandmother” tree, estimated to be 150 to 250 years old.
Footage taken by protesters shows the massive tree crashing down as border agents look on, and the activists who worked to protect it wail.
“We have been raided, **** aulted, battered, bruised, bleeding by the Border Patrol agents,” said Kate Scott, an activist who kicked off the group’s tree sit, in a call following Monday’s raid. As CBP cleared the area, about 10 people were arrested, the group of activists estimates, and another 10 received citations, including for “violation of a closure order” for being in the border-wall zone.
At least one activist showed images of scrapes and bandages on a Monday video call.

#border #tree

Halle Berry spent Sunday with her son, Maceo, before asking a Los Angeles judge to restore the parenting arrangement she previously shared with ex-husband Olivier Martinez. Her request, filed Monday, Oct. 5, seeks a return to their 2023 agreement for 50/50 custody, Entertainment Weekly reported.
A temporary restraining order issued Oct. 1 changed Berry's parenting time but allowed her to continue seeing her son during specified daytime hours. The order covered both Martinez and Maceo, according to records reviewed by PEOPLE.
Martinez sought protection after alleging that Berry physically attacked Maceo during a Sept. 26 dispute. Her attorney, Marina Beck, denied his account and called the filing "entirely meritless and deliberately misleading."
Berry, 60, was accompanied on the Oct. 4 visit by her fiancé, musician Van Hunt. They spent time together one day before Maceo's 13th birthday.
An eyewitness told PEOPLE that Berry chatted with Maceo at a Los Angeles Sky Zone before he joined an indoor soccer game. She and Hunt watched from nearby. When a fan approached for a selfie, Berry declined because she was spending time with her child. TMZ also published BACKGRID footage of the trio shopping at Best Buy that day.

#hunt

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could use a recent security scare near their children's school to support their case for taxpayer-funded protection in the UK, royal author Ingrid Seward claimed. The Sussexes returned to Britain in August and are still waiting for a decision on whether they will receive publicly funded security while they are in the country.
Seward suggested Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may point to the incident when making their case for greater security. Speaking to The Sun's Royal Exclusive, Seward said she believed the couple could use the situation to their advantage. "I do feel certain that they (the Sussexes) probably will use this to try and benefit themselves in some kind of way," she said.
Harry has repeatedly raised concerns about his family's security while in the UK. Seward suggested that his security team would likely have stayed near the school because Harry uses a high level of protection when travelling with his family.
Harry and Meghan are currently waiting to learn whether they will receive taxpayer-funded security while living in the UK. Their security arrangements have remained a major issue since Harry stepped back as a working member of the Royal Family and moved to the US. The Duke has previously challenged decisions surrounding his security protection in Britain.
GB News royal correspondent Cameron Walker also discussed the incident and the security concerns involving Archie and Lilibet. Walker said British publications would generally avoid publishing unauthorized photos of the children. However, he noted that some European outlets could take a different approach.

#royal

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's security dispute is in the news again after two men were spotted near the new school their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are enrolled in.
The two men, said to be European paparazzi, were described by the Sussexes' spokesperson as exhibiting "extraordinarily reckless" behavior and compared it to the recent security incident at RAF Fairford.
As Prince Harry and Meghan's request for taxpayer-funded police protection is pending RAVEC review, a royal author has branded the way they have handled the recent paparazzi story a "cynical strategy."
Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA
Royal author Robert Jobson believes that the way Harry and Meghan have publicly discussed their security incidents could make it hard for the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) to leave their security arrangements as is.

#harry #royal #meghan

President Donald Trump on Saturday pressured Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas to support a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, urging Americans to call what appeared to be the personal cellphone number of Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The Sunshine Protection Act passed the House in July, but it faces roadblocks in the Senate where some Republicans are strongly opposed. Proponents, including the White House, argue that the change would provide more daylight during the times that Americans are most active. Detractors said permanent daylight saving time would lead to darker and potentially more hazardous winter mornings when children will be waiting for school buses and parents will be driving to work in darkness.
It was a remarkable escalation on Trump's part of a longstanding fixation shared by both men — with Trump supporting making daylight saving time permanent, and Cotton vociferously opposed — at a time just weeks before the midterms, when Republicans would prefer that the president focus on talking about affordability issues and the party's achievements. Cotton is also up for reelection this November, although that race is not expected to be competitive.
Daylight saving time is that period between spring and fall when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time. Not all states observe it — and under the bill, states can opt out of the change if their respective legislatures act to do so before the bill's enactment.
"It's a lot of work for a lot of people, running around for two days, changing all the clocks in the house," Trump told reporters as his left the White House on Saturday for a rally in Vandalia, Ohio. "It discombobulates everybody," he said.

#House #Trump #saving #states

This summer, we took a family vacation to Oregon to hike in the Pacific Northwest. Not surprisingly, we saw a bunch of people decked out in clothing made by Columbia, the huge sportswear company founded in Portland in 1938, and named for the nearby river.
We also saw a lot of people wearing Patagonia clothes. Named after the vast geographic region at the southern tip of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile, Patagonia was founded by climber Yvon Chouinard in 1973 to provide durable climbing equipment and outdoor wear. The company heavily supports environmental causes and donates profits from the sale of their jackets, fleeces and other gear to ecological protection. The company even sued President Trump in 2017, for shrinking federal lands protections.
In addition to environmental causes, Patagonia has also championed the LGBTQ community by partnering with the Human Rights Campaign to oppose state legislation targeting their rights. This summer, though, the company sued one member of that community.
Wyn Wiley is an activist from Bend, Oregon, who focuses on environmental and LGBTQ+ issues, promoting acceptance of queer identities in the environmentalist and outdoors communities, and promoting awareness of climate change and its effects.
In October of 2018, Wiley created the character Pattie Gonia and produced short-form outdoors activism content on Instagram and TikTok, while dressing in drag. The first posted video garnered more than 100 million views. Pattie Gonia has 1.8 million Instagram followers and claims to have raised $3.7 million for environmental causes, including $1 million raised last year on a 100-mile hike. In 2022, Pattie Gonia partnered with The North Face, another outdoor gear juggernaut, for their 2022 "Summer of Pride" series, which consisted of outdoor community-building events focused on local LGBTQ+ engagement and acceptance.

#lgbtq #summer

Tom Sandoval has secured a two-year restraining order against ex-girlfriend Victoria Lee Robinson after months of legal filings stemming from a June confrontation at their Los Angeles home.
A Los Angeles judge approved the order on Oct. 1, extending protection for Sandoval through Oct. 1, 2028. Page Six obtained the court documents detailing the new restrictions.
The order follows the temporary protection Sandoval received in June after accusing Robinson and her father, J. Will Robinson, of attacking him. Victoria Robinson was arrested after police responded to the June 3 confrontation and was released the same day.
Robinson later filed her own domestic violence restraining-order request, accusing Sandoval of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Sandoval has denied her allegations.
The new order requires Robinson to remain at least 100 yards away from Sandoval, his home and his workplace. She cannot contact him directly or indirectly by phone, mail, email, text message or other electronic communication.

#order #Victoria #restraining #protection

After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry condemned two men believed to be paparazzi, the former head of Met Police security for the royal family called their statement "nonsense."
Dai Davis, who once worked in royal protection, told The U.S. Sun in an article published Wednesday, September 30, that the Duke and ****** ss of Sussex's response is "bordering on shameless but ridiculous as well."
It was reported by People on Wednesday that two men carrying backpacks — who are believed to be photographers — were seen by the couple's private security and staff at the school where Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet attend.
Police reportedly ****** sed the situation, identifying one of the men as an international photographer working for a European press agency.
A spokesman for the Sussexes called it "extraordinarily reckless, concerning" and an "unacceptable" intrusion of privacy, per the publication.

#prince #police

Pennsylvania has reported its fifth measles-associated death of 2026 as the state's ongoing outbreak climbs to 943 confirmed cases across 39 counties.
The Pennsylvania department of health said on Wednesday that an unvaccinated Lancaster county resident who tested positive for measles had died. Health officials did not release further information about the individual, citing privacy protections.
The death marks the fifth Pennsylvania resident to meet the state's definition of a measles-associated death this year after a fourth death two weeks ago. Due to how the Trump administration has changed its method for reporting measles deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not counted the Pennsylvania measles deaths in its national tally.
As of Monday 28 September, Pennsylvania had recorded 40 new positive cases. The outbreak has now reached 39 counties, with 943 ******* ulative confirmed cases, 176 hospitalizations and five confirmed measles-associated deaths.
Only four of those confirmed cases have involved vaccinated individuals, representing less than 1% of the state's total cases.

#associated

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security has tapped $20 million to pay for the campaign-style ads glorifying President Donald Trump that have drawn widespread criticism from Republicans and Democrats as a blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars that likely runs afoul of anti-propaganda law.
In a letter Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, two top Democratic senators said that the money is being drawn from Trump's so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" and was supposed to go for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
"We should not have to remind you that using government funding to create or air political ads like the ones that have been running over the last few days is illegal and a shockingly corrupt misuse of taxpayer dollars," wrote Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee that handles Homeland Security funding.
The senators demanded answers within the next 48 hours about "how this president is literally stealing their tax dollars to air campaign ads celebrating himself."
They asked the secretary if the department plans to use additional federal funds to air these ads or create new ones, and if so to share contracting information with Congress. They also asked Mullin if he had spoken to Trump about using the taxpayer funds for the ads.

#democrat

Morgan Stanley has cut Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) to Underweight on September 11, 2026. Semaglutide, the underlying molecule for Wegovy and Ozempic, generates roughly 75% of 2026 revenue. Morgan Stanley models that it will still represent 59% of total sales when its patent protection expires in 2031. And according to the firm, the valuation does not price in the impact it has on Novo's terminal value. The stock, currently trading at 10.6x earnings and down 33% from its 52-week high, slipped another 2% following the call. At this point, the question isn't about whether the patent cliff is real or not, but whether the 10x multiple reflects an actual bargain.
Semaglutide loses exclusivity in Europe in 2031 and the US in 2032. And Morgan Stanley believes Novo's oral-obesity business, projected to reach $10 billion by 2031, could not offset the pricing collapse after the arrival of generics. Growth decelerates to a 4% compound rate between 2027 and 2030. If the deceleration continues, it will justify 10x earnings as a fair price instead of a cheap one.
The 10.6x multiple already prices aggressive pessimism into a market leader of one of the fastest-growing drug classes in history. Morgan Stanley fueled the pessimism by discounting a 2031 cliff five years earlier. However, pharmaceutical patent expirations frequently face extensions and prove difficult to time. Second, the ***** umption that oral obesity treatments cannot offset patent losses relies on oral semaglutide being the bridge. But Novo's next-generation portfolio, including CagriSema and amycretin, offers a significant defense against the patent cliff. This remains unproven, however, specifically after CagriSema's earlier weight-loss data failed to impress, yet Morgan Stanley's terminal-value model discounts this pipeline almost entirely. The company is also expanding its franchise. On September 7, the STEP Young trial hit its endpoint in children aged six to twelve, strengthening the base its successors inherit.
The smart money is leaning in. As per the Insider Monkey database, 59 hedge funds held NVO in the second quarter of 2026, up from 55 in the first, indicating a slight increase in the modest institutional interest in the stock. Short interest on the ADR is negligible at about 0.7%. The positioning reflects a beaten-down value stock quietly seeing institutional accumulation while Wall Street turns increasingly bearish.

#semaglutide #oral

On September 8, 2026, Reuters reported that Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) said California Attorney General Rob Bonta made television statements that contradict his own legal arguments against Paramount's request for a $1.88 billion bond in the ongoing court fight over its roughly $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD).
Bonta's office has argued the bond is unnecessary because Paramount voluntarily agreed to pause the deal's closing rather than wait for a court injunction. But Paramount described that same pause as equivalent to an injunction in media interviews, which it argues legally requires the states to post a bond under antitrust law. A hearing is scheduled for September 24.
Paramount Skydance Corporation (NASDAQ:PSKY) could protect a significant portion of its financial position if the court grants its $1.88 billion bond request. Paramount says the delay could cost it about $1.3 billion in fees to Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders by the time the case concludes in April 2027. A bond would give Paramount a potential path to recover those losses if it ultimately defeats the states' challenge. It reduces the financial damage from a prolonged legal process.
Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBD) is receiving financial protection from the transaction's delay through Paramount's ticking fees. Paramount agreed to pay WBD shareholders approximately $7 million per day starting October 1 if the transaction does not close, creating a growing payment obligation for Paramount. It is also providing WBD shareholders with compensation for waiting. The arrangement gives WBD a financial benefit from the prolonged closing process even as the companies await a final legal resolution.
The legal dispute has not eliminated the strategic rationale for combining the two media companies. Paramount argues that the merger would strengthen the film and television industry and lead to more content while giving the combined company greater scale to compete with Netflix and Disney. For Paramount, completing the acquisition would speed up David Ellison's plan to build a larger media competitor. WBD shareholders would receive the transaction consideration rather than remain exposed to the company's standalone turnaround.

#paramount

(NEXSTAR) – The days getting shorter serve as a reminder that we’re barreling toward the end of our seasonal observation of daylight saving time, but the wheels may be in motion to stop that – a move more than a dozen states have been waiting to happen.
Earlier this year, the House passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent throughout the U.S., with few exceptions. It’s been held up in the Senate since July but, now that the chamber has returned from recess, there’s a chance the legislation could be picked up.
If it can pass the Senate, the bill seems to stand a fair chance of becoming law, with President Trump already expressing support.
For more than a dozen states, this is the closest they’ve been in years to seeing some of their own legislation finally take effect. The U.S. hasn’t been this close to permanent daylight saving time since a version of the Sunshine Protection Act passed in the Senate in 2022 but fizzled in the House.
At present, states are only allowed to opt into year-round permanent standard time, as Hawaii and much of Arizona have done. But that hasn’t stopped 19 states from enacting legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent in their jurisdiction, pending approval from Congress.

#House

A Wall Street Journal report on September 16 revealed that ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is nearing a preliminary agreement with Venezuela's state-owned PDVSA, potentially marking its return to the country almost two decades after its ***** ets were nationalized. According to Reuters, Exxon has shown interest in the large Petromonagas heavy oil project in the Orinoco Belt, as well as in areas in the neighboring Carabobo block.
While the talks are still in their preliminary phase and could still fall apart or be delayed, they mark a major turnaround from Exxon's previous stance on Venezuela. The company's CEO, Darren Woods, stated in January that the country was "uninvestable" without durable investment protections, legal reforms, and changes to its hydrocarbon laws.
The development comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to open Venezuela's oil industry to American companies and revive the country's dilapidated oil infrastructure. The South American nation is sitting on the largest proven crude oil reserves in the world, accounting for roughly 17% of the global total.
Venezuela could provide Exxon with access to an enormous resource base at a time when the company is actively seeking low-cost and long-duration ***** ets. The fields under consideration are estimated to contain more than 50 billion barrels of oil buried underground.
Exxon already holds an advantage through its previous experience in the country. Petromonagas, formerly called Cerro Negro, was once the energy firm's flagship project in Venezuela, giving it familiarity with the country's vast heavy and extra-heavy crude resources. Petromonagas also remains one of the few Venezuelan projects with an operational upgrader capable of turning the Orinoco's extra-heavy crude into lighter exportable grades.

#heavy #project

On September 14, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) and Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D) announced a "transformational" Virginia benefits package to address concerns regarding their proposed $66.8 billion merger. The Virginia supplier program, worth up to $1 billion annually ‌for five years, will direct spending toward contractors, suppliers, and service providers in the state.
Additionally, the companies also proposed doubling residential bill credits to four years, protecting retail customers from grid costs tied to Northern Virginia's rapidly expanding AI data centers, and committing $100 million toward directly supporting workforce development in the Commonwealth. NextEra also stated that it plans to add 600 new energy jobs in Virginia, while expecting suppliers to create another 400 positions.
The updated package comes after the proposed merger attracted a great deal of political scrutiny due to the impact it can have on everyday consumers. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger also stated last month that she would formally intervene in the regulatory review to press for commitments on electric bill affordability, job protections, and clean-energy investments.
John Ketchum, Chairman, President, and CEO of NextEra Energy, commented:
"This is a Virginia-first package, and it starts with customers. We are proposing to double residential bill relief from two years to four years, along with expanded low-income financial ******* istance and long-term affordability benefits. We are also reaffirming our support for the State Corporation Commission, Governor and General ******* embly's efforts to protect residential and small business customers from costs ******* ociated with serving data centers. Just as important, this package would help Virginia build more of the clean energy and infrastructure it needs faster, so the Commonwealth can reduce its reliance on expensive imported power. And it would do that while positioning Virginia as a major energy leader, bringing NextEra Energy jobs, good-paying supplier jobs, workforce investment, economic development and national-scale energy technology and innovation to Virginia. This is the kind of customer-focused, job-creating package this combination makes possible."

#energy #years #Jobs

Palantir (PLTR) CEO Alex Karp has dropped a blunt theory about the AI industry's safety push.
The outspoken AI executive said that some companies might need government ownership to escape the financial consequences of their technology.
In his CNBC interview, Karp framed nationalization as the destination he believes those businesses are moving toward, with liability protection the prize.
His startling comments come as the industry's conversation shifts towards safeguards and whether development should slow down. Moreover, that also raises the question of who shoulders the risks created along the way?
Karp zeroes in on customers' intellectual property. He said businesses working with Palantir believe that their ideas and data are being fed into AI models, putting their competitive advantages at risk.

#businesses #alex #cnbc #moreover