circus names 2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animalsReliable Inverters for Efficient Power BackupPayPal Holdings Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading dayNorth Dakota regulators OK underground storage for proposed Midwest carbon dioxide pipeline BISMARCK, N.D. Jack Dura And Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press Dec 12, 2024 3:18 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, right, and Republican state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, left, prepare before a meeting of the state Industrial Commission on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, at the state Capitol in Bismarck, N.D. (AP Photo/Jack Dura) BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators approved permits Thursday for underground storage of carbon dioxide delivered through a massive pipeline proposed for the Midwest, marking another victory for a project that has drawn fierce opposition from landowners. The governor-led Industrial Commission voted unanimously to approve permits for Summit Carbon Solutions’ three proposed storage sites in central North Dakota. Summit says construction of the project would begin in 2026 with operations beginning in 2027, but it’s expected that resistant landowners will file lawsuits seeking to block the storage plans. “With these permits, we’re one step closer to providing vital infrastructure that benefits farmers, ethanol producers, and communities across the Midwest," Summit Executive VP Wade Boeshans said in a statement. Summit’s proposed 2,500-mile (4,023-kilometer), $8 billion pipeline would transport planet-warming CO2 emissions from 57 ethanol plants in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska for underground storage. Carbon dioxide would move through the pipeline in a pressurized form to be injected deep underground into a rock formation. The company has permits for its route in North Dakota and Iowa but can’t yet begin construction. Also on Thursday, Minnesota regulators approved a permit for a 28-mile (45-kilometer) leg of the project in western Minnesota. Summit also recently applied in South Dakota, where regulators denied the company’s previous application last year. Last month, the company gained approval for its North Dakota route , and Iowa regulators also have given conditional approval. Summit faces several lawsuits related to the project, including a North Dakota Supreme Court appeal over a property rights law related to the underground storage plan. Further court challenges are likely. North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, who chairs the Industrial Commission, is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Interior Secretary and to lead a new National Energy Council. Burgum has frequently touted North Dakota's underground carbon dioxide storage as a “geologic jackpot.” In 2021, he set a goal for the No. 3 oil-producing state to be carbon-neutral by 2030. His term ends Saturday. Summit's storage facilities would hold an estimated maximum of 352 million metric tons of CO2 over 20 years. The pipeline would carry up to 18 million metric tons of CO2 per year to be injected about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) underground, according to an application fact sheet. Jessie Stolark, who leads a group that supports the project and includes Summit, said the oil industry has long used similar technology. “We know that this can be done safely in a manner that is protective of human health and underground sources of drinking water,” said Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition. Summit's project has drawn the ire of landowners around the region. They oppose the potential taking of their property for the pipeline and fear a pipeline rupture releasing a cloud of heavy, hazardous gas over the land. A North Dakota landowners group is challenging a property rights law related to the underground storage, and attorney Derrick Braaten said they likely would challenge the granting of permits. “The landowners that I'm working with aren't necessarily opposed to carbon sequestration itself,” Braaten said. “They're opposed to the idea that a private company can come in and use their property without having to negotiate with them or pay them just compensation for taking their private property and using it.” Carbon capture projects such as Summit's are eligible for lucrative federal tax credits intended to encourage cleaner-burning ethanol and potentially result in corn-based ethanol being refined into jet fuel. Some opponents argue the amount of greenhouse gases sequestered through the process would make little difference and could lead farmers to grow more corn despite environmental concerns about the crop. In Minnesota, regulators granted a route permit that would connect an ethanol plant in Fergus Falls to Summit’s broader network. They attached several conditions, including requirements that Summit first begin construction in North Dakota. An administrative law judge who conducted hearings concluded in November that the environmental impacts from the Minnesota segment would be minimal and noted that Summit has secured agreements from landowners along most of the recommended route. Environmental groups that oppose the project disputed the judge’s finding that the project would have a net benefit for the environment. Iowa regulators required Summit to obtain approvals for routes in the Dakotas and underground storage in North Dakota before it can begin construction in Iowa. The Iowa Utilities Commission's approval sparked lawsuits related to the project. In Nebraska, where there is no state regulatory process for CO2 pipelines, Summit is working with individual counties to advance its project. At least one county has denied a permit. ___ Karnowski reported from Minneapolis. Jack Dura And Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More World News Israeli strike in Gaza kills 25 people as US makes new push for a ceasefire Dec 12, 2024 12:28 PM Israeli strike in central Gaza kills at least 25 people Dec 12, 2024 12:18 PM The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds Dec 12, 2024 10:07 AM Featured Flyer

HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70

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This past September, I reached my 42nd anniversary as a full-time sports writer at The Morning Call. I moved into that role in 1982, but I began my Morning Call career even earlier. In 1979, fresh out of high school and attending Penn State’s Allentown campus in Fogelsville, I started as a part-time agate clerk. That meant I answered phone calls and typed up everything from the Upper & Lower Macungie Knee-Hi League baseball and softball games to the local trapshooting results. There was an occasional byline starting with Allentown Central Catholic’s Sheila O’Donnell winning the first of her four District 11 tennis singles titles at the Vantage Point Racquet Club, but I was mostly at a typewriter answering phones at 6th and Linden streets in Allentown. Today, Vantage Point is a St. Luke’s pickleball center and the 6th and Linden office I entered in 1979 is now home to the Community Services for Children and the newsroom where I spent 37 years from 1984 to 2020 is a plot of ground targeted for a big apartment complex. Things change and no business has changed more than the newspaper business over the last 45 years. But one thing that has stayed the same is the interactions with people. I’ve averaged about 500 stories per year have done about 21,000 stories. And that means there have been 21,000 interactions with various people over the years. Ask me who won a a basketball championship in 1988 or a football title in 1991, I’d have to look it up. Ask me what the score was from the District 11 6A title game just last mont and I’d have to look it up. The kids, coaches, athletic directors, trainers and sometimes even the fans involved in the game, that’s what you remember. The more years that go by, and the more relationships that are created, the more it hurts when you lose people you came to know. And, in 2024, we lost more than our share in the Lehigh Valley sports world. Whether they were folks in their 90s such as Palmerton and Temple basketball legend Bill Mlkvy or Blue Mountain League baseball Hall of Famer Earl Dreisbach or they left us tragically in a blink of an eye like Stroudsburg athletic director Sean Richmond, Northwestern Lehigh football player Tucker Wessner or former Nazareth basketball player and multi-sport coach Ryan Peck, the losses all sting the same and leave a hole in our collective hearts. While we think about those who left us over the past 12 months we never forget those who touched our lives over the years, especially those who left us much too soon like Jeff Dailey, Justin Sheftel, Krysta Hankee, Mia Due and others. So, as we gather tonight on Christmas Eve and over the next few days to celebrate with our loved ones, take a moment to remember those families who no longer have their loved ones around them this holiday season. With an assist from and a special thank you to former Easton Express-Times sports writer Joe DeVivo, here’s a list of many of those sports personalities who died in 2024. Please keep them and their families in your prayers: Jerry Mahoney, 81, Jan. 1: The Hokendauqua resident served 50 years as president of Lehigh Valley Girls Softball League. Victoria Calantoni, 81, Jan. 4: Thoroughbred race horse owner from Bethlehem Township whose career achievement came when she paid $7,000 at auction for Sir Beaufort and he went on to win the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap in California. Russell “Skip” Fegely, 88, Jan. 6: A 1957 Moravian grad was one of school’s 10 1,000-point scorers in basketball and member of school’s Hall of Fame. Ross Moore, 73, Jan. 21: The 1969 Dieruff grad was one of the school’s all-time best athletes. He led the Huskies to three straight East Penn League and District 11 basketball titles and is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,269 points. He was also a first-team all-state and first-team All-American in football and was recruited by Woody Hayes to play at Ohio State. Mike Vincovitch, 87, Jan. 31: Nazareth resident was a well-known PIAA official in basketball, softball, field hockey and track. David St. John, Feb. 2: Assistant softball coach at Allen and Parkland. Bruce Krasley, 73, Feb. 7: Head football coach at Jim Thorpe 1975-83, later served as principal at Palmerton and Catasauqua. Bill Reese, 77, Feb. 19: Named best all-around athlete as a senior at East Stroudsburg High in 1964 and member of the school’s Hall of Fame. Head baseball coach at Stroudsburg 1975-96, JV basketball coach at East Stroudsburg South 2001-2003. Mark Benetsky, 75, Feb. 19: Longtime assistant baseball coach at Liberty and a member of the National Football Foundation Lehigh Valley Chapter. Nick “Gooch” Coombe, 64, Feb. 15: A Whitehall grad who pitched a no-hitter in a Lehigh Valley Legion game in June 1977. Betty Brader, 79, Feb. 20: The secretary in Dieruff athletic office for 25 years. Dave Druckenmiller, 63, Feb. 25: College football scout who worked for PA Football News and Lehigh Valley Football Network. James Oplinger, 87, Feb. 19: A 1954 Northampton grad pitched three seasons in the minors leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals. Member of Blue Mountain League, ESU, Northampton High, and Lehigh Valley Halls of Fame. Won three Lehigh Valley League titles and his teams went 82-19 in football at Northampton. H. Eugene Harrison, 91, Feb. 26: A second-team all-state quarterback on Phillipsburg’s undefeated New Jersey state title football team in 1949 and a four-year QB at Lafayette. He served as golf coach at Notre Dame-Green Pond for seven years. Ed Ott, 72, March 3: Catcher on 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series champions and manager of the independent league Allentown Ambassadors. Sonja Horbowyj Kustafic 62, March 5: A standout basketball and volleyball player who was Dieruff’s female Athlete of Year as a senior in 1979 and went on to play at Seton Hall. William Poretta, 89, March 13: Member of Lehigh Valley Sports Hall of Fame and past president of Lehigh Valley chapter of National Football Foundation. Brian Dominic, 71, March 17: 1969 MVP for Phillipsburg in Thanksgiving Day football game vs. Easton. 1970 scholar athlete and second team New Jersey Group 4 All-State selection. Earl Dreisbach, 90, March 20: Fountain Hill native played minor league baseball in St. Louis Cardinals system 1953-56. Played and managed championship Bethlehem Cardinals in the Blue Mountain League from 1959-79. Bob Zirinsky, 78, March 23: A three-sport athlete at Catasauqua who went on to play football and baseball at Lafayette. Coached Quakertown football for more than 15 years. Dan Dolphin, 71, April 6: Coached Allentown Central Catholic lacrosse team for 14 seasons, highlighted by a state title in 2021. Tony Koury, 77, April 10: The Notre Dame-Green Pond athletic director for 43 years, 1969-2012. Thomas “Turkey” Weaver, 88, April 12: A lineman on Nazareth football teams that went undefeated from 1949-52. Member of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame and the founder of Nazareth Clippers Athletic Association. Tony Zonca, 84, April 15: The Lansford native was best known as a sports writer, columnist and editor at Reading Eagle from 1965-2002. Sean Richmond, 38, May 11: A 2004 Easton grad went 109-26 with two Northeast Regional wrestling titles. Head wrestling coach at Stroudsburg for eight seasons and the school’s athletic director at time of death. Chuck Madson, 75, May 11: A District 11 Hall of Fame wrestler and football player at Wilson who coached baseball, football and wrestling for Palmer Township Athletic Association and served as assistant wrestling coach at Nazareth. Stephen Banko, 90, May 15: A Palmerton grad who raced cars at Mahoning Valley, Nazareth and Dorney Park speedways and rolled several 300 games as a bowler. Alex DeLucia, 87, May 16: A 1955 ACCHS grad and Wall of Fame honoree set an East Penn League, Rockne Hall and school record by scoring 46 points in a basketball game. Went on to star in basketball, baseball and football at Penn. Preston Moritz, 84, June 1: Catasauqua’s Athlete of Year in 1957, he coached youth football for East Lawn Clippers for more than 25 years. Became president of Lehigh Valley Football All-Star Classic for more than a decade. Bobby Neff, 73, June 16: An ACCHS basketball player who scored 1,000 points and was named East Penn League MVP in 1969. Andy Kistler, 61, June 18: The golf pro at Brookside Country Club, Allentown Municipal and Willowbrook Golf Club. Charlie Williams, 94, June 19: Longtime athletic director at Panther Valley and president of the Eastern Conference. Inducted into the Carbon County Sports Hall of Fame. Dave Paffenroth, 63, June 23: A standout in football and track at Stroudsburg, where he was named Lehigh Valley Athlete of the Year and a Big 33 selection. He was a also a member of Penn State’s first national championship football team in 1982. Gary Martell, 73, June 30: A standout football player at Moravian, he stayed at the school for nearly 50 years and was also an assistant coach baseball at Bethlehem Catholic and executive director at the Bethlehem Boys and Girls Club. Dr. Bob Brennan 89, July 5: He was captain of Moravian’s baseball team and became a top-notch amateur golfer who registered six career holes-in-one and was Senior Men’s champ at Saucon Valley Country Club. Willy Edwards, 46, July 9: A two-way lineman and popular driving force on Central Catholic’s 1993 PIAA football title team. Donald “DeG” DeGerolamo, 88, July 10: The 1955 Phillipsburg grad earned all-state honors in football and was one of the first 10 inducted into the Phillipsburg-Easton Hall of Fame. Anthony Casciano, 68, July 10: The baseball coach at Pius X in Roseto for 21 years, his teams went 276-135-1 and won multiple District 11 titles. He was inducted into the Northampton County American Legion League Hall of Fame. He was also the football defensive coordinator at Notre Dame-Green Pond for his nephew, Phil Stambaugh. Dick Hunt, 85, July 15: A 1957 Nazareth grad excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He was a 2023 inductee into the school’s Hall of Fame. Tucker Wessner, 16, July 16: Died prior to the start of his junior year at Northwestern after playing JV and varsity football as a sophomore. The Tigers dedicated their undefeated state championship season to their fallen teammate. Bob Heinsohn, 83, July 28: The Palisades girls basketball coach for 17 years, he led the Pirates to 209 wins and three league and one district championship. Janice Stem, 86, July 29: The wife of legendary football coach Bob Stem for 60 years. She was the cheerleading coach for 19 years at Bethlehem Catholic, where she was inducted into the school’s Wall of Fame, and volunteered for the McDonald’s Lehigh Valley All-Star Football Classic for many years. Chuck Givler, 85, Aug. 5: Longtime auto racing writer at Express-Times and a PIAA basketball official. Coached boys and girls basketball and softball at Belvidere High School. Ken Shiffert, 76, Aug. 10: The Nazareth boys basketball coach from 1993-97 and brother of longtime Easton football coach Steve Shiffert. Kevin Kane, 53, Aug. 12: New Jersey state champion wrestler and star football player at Phillipsburg. He was also an assistant football coach for Stateliners under Stem. Ryan Peck, 34, Aug. 15: The 2008 Nazareth grad starred in soccer and basketball and later coached middle school basketball at Pen Argyl and Nazareth. Afa Anoai Sr., 81, Aug. 16: A WWE Hall of Fame wrestler who was part of Wild Samoans tag team with brother Sika. He also ran a training center for pro wrestlers in Allentown and Hazleton. John Larry Endy, 80, Aug. 17: A co-captain of 1964 and 1965 East Stroudsburg University soccer teams that are part of the school’s Hall of Fame, he went on to officiate soccer and and softball official for 58 years. He was inducted into three Halls of Fame. Dick Fahringer, 85, Aug. 21: A1957 Whitehall grad who excelled in track and field and worked as a PIAA football official for 20 years. Tom Donchez, 72, Aug. 28: The Liberty High football star was an all-state and Big 33 selection as a senior in 1969. He went on to play at Penn State and was a fullback on the undefeated 1973 team. Warren “Nonny” Landis, 80, Sept. 10: The Emmaus High grad was East Stroudsburg University’s basketball MVP in 1964. He was the golf coach at Emmaus for 27 years with his teams winning multiple league titles. Sherwood Gum, 89, Sept. 13: A football co-captain of Pen Argyl’s 1951 Lehigh-Northampton League championship team who was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame. Kim Davis, 72, Sept. 18: The 1970 Northampton grad was the school’s longtime tennis coach and public address announcer for Konkrete Kids and Lehigh Valley Steelhawks indoor football team. Roger Pence, 64, Sept. 18: Former member of sports staff at Morning Call and a co-host of Calling All Sports radio show. Dennis Nemes, 76, Sept. 23: The principal at Northwestern Lehigh and Allentown Central Catholic for a total of 33 years, he also served on the District 11 committee for 30 years and PIAA board for 29 years. John Schoenberger Jr., 74, Sept. 25: Longtime coach of Nazareth Clippers football, baseball and softball programs. Mike Kloiber, 63, Oct. 2: A Parkland baseball star who earned a scholarship to play at North Carolina State. Also a cleanup hitter for the 1980 South Parkland Lehigh Valley Legion champions. Johnny Williams, 77, Oct. 12: A 1965 Allen grad played football at Muhlenberg and served as soccer commissioner for the South Parkland Youth Association. William “Pic” Pichler, 83, Oct. 15: The 1959 Liberty grad was a PIAA basketball official for 18 years, and coached Muhlenberg’s softball team for three seasons. Francis Bolez, 77, Nov. 10: A 1965 Central Catholic grad who was MVP in baseball and a member of the school’s 1964 PCIAA state championship basketball team and 1965 East Penn League championship basketball team. Also played on a championship baseball at Kutztown University later became a coach and athletic director at Brandywine Heights. Richard Frantz, 87, Nov. 16: The East Stroudsburg University graduate was an athletic trainer at Northern Lehigh. Andrew McGeehin III, 78, Nov. 25: A longtime area basketball, football and golf coach and sports personality who was perhaps best known for his storytelling at Jordan AC and Hogan’s Social Club, was also the brother of the Allentown Central Catholic football and basketball legend Jeff McGeehin. Bill Mlkvy, 93, Dec. 12: A legendary basketball player at Palmerton High and Temple University, who as an Owls junior in 1950-51 became a first-team All-American. He averaged 29.2 points per game and scored 73 points in a game against Wilkes, including 54 in a row. Jack Ortelli, 75, Dec. 18: A 1967 Easton grad coached football at Emmaus and Pius X in Roseto, where he was an assistant on the undefeated 1976 Royals team. ©2024 The Morning Call. Visit mcall.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Marvell Technology Stock Climbs After Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results, Strong Q4 GuidanceNEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that dismissal is warranted because of the “overwhelming national mandate granted to him by the American people on November 5, 2024.” They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’" Trump’s legal team wrote. The Manhattan district attorney, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. A dismissal would erase Trump’s historic conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. Trump takes office on Jan. 20. Merchan hasn’t set a timetable for a decision. Merchan could also decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has pledged to appeal the verdict if the case is not dismissed. He and his lawyers said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes.Stock market today: Wall Street inches higher to set more records

Franklin Access (Formerly Franklin Wireless) Successfully Defends Shareholder Litigationalways wants to play, no matter what it takes. A non-surgical, lower-body procedure, as opposed to surgery, has sidelined the top-pairing defenceman for eight weeks. It’s not the best news, but a combination of not requiring right shoulder surgery and dealing now with a lower-body ailment, will add up to bringing him back for the stretch drive and playoffs. Hronek could have been sidelined for remaining of this NHL season if surgery was the only option for a shoulder that has also caused him problems in the past. Hronek was injured in the final minute of on Nov. 27 when drilled by Jack St. Ivany into the end boards. Hronek fell awkwardly as he absorbed the heavy impact on the back of his right shoulder. He was seen grimacing in pain, as he fell to the ice. In his absence, the Canucks have juggled their pairings and blueliners have soaked up more minutes and gone to the grind to get wins. They have deployed — he had five blocks and five hits Sunday in a 5-4 overtime win at Detroit — and to work with Hughes. The adjustments helped forge a 4-1-0 road record heading into the finale of a six-game trip on Tuesday in St. Paul, Minn. against the league-leading Wild. “Throughout the road trip, guys have done something to help the team,” Canucks head coach said Tuesday. “I could go down the list with key moments and has been unreal. We’re a team that can’t have four or five passengers. “Everybody has to contribute something, whether it’s Juulsen with blocked shots, or one night the penalty kill and another the power play. That’s the key.” Hronek made a seamless trade transition to the Canucks and a pairing with Hughes. His team-leading plus-14 rating speaks to how he and the Canucks captain control play at even strength by playing off each other and denying the opposition turnovers to swing momentum. Hronek was logging an average of 23:36 per outing and had 24 shots when sidelined to put a talented pairing on hold. Hughes is the get-out-of-jail card to quickly transition from the back end and Hronek is always one of his exit options, unless the Norris Trophy leader unleashes a long passing bomb. Hronek’s nine points (1-8) are a product of being responsible and opportunistic with an underrated shot to help guide the second power-play unit from the point. And he’s a big reason why the once inept penalty kill is ranked 11th at 80.6 per cent efficiency. Hronek, 27, was a restricted free agent at the end of last season. He signed an eight-year, US$58 million extension on June 18 that carries and $7.25 million annual salary-cap hit. Hronek has also had a history of shoulder trouble. He had an ailment when the Canucks traded for him on March 1, 2023 and didn’t make his Vancouver debut until March 23. He played just four games and was then shut down. Tocchet said at the time that Hronek hadn’t suffered a setback, but implied he was still lacking strength to compete. Had the Canucks advance to the playoffs, he would have been back. bkuzma@postmedia.com

Croatia's Milanovic looks set for reelection, but fails to avoid run-offRBI injects Rs 25,000 cr via VRR route to boost system liquidityAcross the recent three months, 4 analysts have shared their insights on Paymentus Holdings PAY , expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish. The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 0 2 2 0 0 Last 30D 0 0 0 0 0 1M Ago 0 0 0 0 0 2M Ago 0 1 2 0 0 3M Ago 0 1 0 0 0 Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $30.25, along with a high estimate of $36.00 and a low estimate of $25.00. Observing a 29.38% increase, the current average has risen from the previous average price target of $23.38. Decoding Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Look The standing of Paymentus Holdings among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Will Nance Goldman Sachs Raises Neutral $33.00 $23.50 Andrew Bauch Wells Fargo Raises Equal-Weight $27.00 $21.00 David Koning Baird Raises Outperform $36.00 $25.00 David Koning Baird Raises Outperform $25.00 $24.00 Key Insights: Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Paymentus Holdings. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company. Rating: Analysts unravel qualitative evaluations for stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings offer insights into expectations for the relative performance of Paymentus Holdings compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Analysts gauge the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of Paymentus Holdings's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time. Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Paymentus Holdings's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on Paymentus Holdings analyst ratings. About Paymentus Holdings Paymentus Holdings Inc provides electronic bill presentment and payment services, enterprise customer communication and self-service revenue management to billers and financial institutions through a Software-as-a-Service, (SaaS), secure, omni-channel technology platform. The platform integrates into a biller's core financial and operating systems to provide flexible and secure access to payment processing of credit cards, debit cards, eChecks and digital wallets across a number of channels including online, mobile, IVR, call center, chatbot and voice-based assistants. The Company generates revenue from payment transaction fees processed through the Company's platform. The fees are generated as a percentage of transaction value or a specified fee per transaction. Breaking Down Paymentus Holdings's Financial Performance Market Capitalization: With restricted market capitalization, the company is positioned below industry averages. This reflects a smaller scale relative to peers. Revenue Growth: Paymentus Holdings's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 51.93% . This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers. Net Margin: Paymentus Holdings's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 6.23%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management. Return on Equity (ROE): Paymentus Holdings's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 3.14%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns. Return on Assets (ROA): Paymentus Holdings's ROA excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 2.67% . This signifies efficient management of assets and strong financial health. Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 0.02 . Analyst Ratings: Simplified Analysts are specialists within banking and financial systems that typically report for specific stocks or within defined sectors. These people research company financial statements, sit in conference calls and meetings, and speak with relevant insiders to determine what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts will rate each stock once a quarter. In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs. Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now? Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. Click here to stay ahead of the market . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Andhra Pradesh ACB registers case against suspended IAS officer